Overview
infantry recruits will be examined - for the musculoskeletal system status (tendon, muscle, proprioception, agility, joints) Following, intervention program of exercises will be conducted. Another evaluation will be performed at the end of the intervention.
Description
Purpose: to assess characteristics of ankle injuries in new infantry recruits, the association with imaging and functional measures, and evaluate preventative exercise program.
Methods: 650 new male infantry soldiers aged 18-23 will be recruited to participate in the study at the beginning of their military training. At the beginning and at the end of the training (after approximately six months), the soldiers will be assessed for: 1. Demographics (height, weight, leg length, BMI calculation), 2. Proprioception ability (Active Movement Extent Discrimination Apparatus AMEDA), 3. Dynamic balance (Y-Balance Test YBT), 4. Leg muscle strength (bilateral heel rise test), 5. Hip strength (hand-held dynamometer), 6. Ankle agility (hexagon agility hop test), 7. Ankle stability (Anterior Drawer Test, musculoskeletal ultrasound for the Anterior Talofibular Ligament), 8. Achilles tendon structure (Ultrasound tissue Characterization UTC), 9. Aerobic ability (3000 meters run, will be recorded by the fitness instructors at the training base). In addition, the soldiers will fill out a previous ankle sprains questionnaire, pre-induction physical activity questionnaire, the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) for ankle perceived instability, and the Ankle Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (ankle-FABQ).
The soldiers will perform a constructed ankle sprain prevention program for five minutes every day during the six-month length of the study. Every 1-2 weeks, the researcher will arrive at the training base to monitor ankle injuries. Those who will be diagnosed with a sprain will be evaluated with an ultrasound, that will be performed at the base every few weeks.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- soldiers ages 18-22
Exclusion Criteria:
- knows disease of the bones
- before orthopedic surgery