The injury risk profile of an Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps population: A preliminary descriptive study

ABSTRACT Introduction The cadets in the U.S. Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) consist of students from varied backgrounds. As part of collegiate ROTC programs, cadets must pass fitness tests and adhere to body composition standards in addition to completing their education. The previous fitness test of record was the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), but it was recently changed to the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) to better test soldiers for combat capabilities. As part of the standardized scoring, the ACFT is no longer separated by sex or age as in the APFT, but rather by job duty. The purpose of this study was to characterize the modern ROTC cadet based on body composition measures and APFT and ACFT scores and then determine how those factors are related. Materials and Methods We calculated body mass index (BMI), fat mass, fat-free mass (FFM), fat-free mass index (FFMI), and fat mass index (FMI) (n = 68, 42 males, 26 females). We used Pearson correlations to compare the scores to body composition assessments and Student’s t-tests to determine if there were differences between sexes. We hypothesized that those with higher FFM and FFMI will have a higher passing rate on the ACFT and that males would perform better on the ACFT because of having more FFM. Results We found that cadets, regardless of sex, were borderline overweight using BMI standards and that BMI did not correlate with any fitness tests. When comparing sexes, both males and females had high passing rates on the APFT, but females struggled to pass the ACFT mostly because of the leg tuck. We also found that ACFT scores were strongly correlated with FFM and FFMI, yet no body composition measures were correlated with APFT scores. Conclusions It is clear from our data that structured training programs and nutrition guidance are needed with an emphasis on changing body composition to increase lean mass and strength to increase the performance of ROTC cadets on the ACFT.

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Concussion history is associated with increased lower-extremity injury incidence in Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets

BMJ Military Health ◽

10.1136/bmjmilitary-2020-001589 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. bmjmilitary-2020-001589 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Katherine J Hunzinger ◽

K N Radzak ◽

K M Costantini ◽

C B Swanik ◽

T A Buckley

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Air Force ◽

Injury Risk ◽

Lower Extremity Injury ◽

Injury Incidence ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Rotc Cadets ◽

Concussion History ◽

Training Corps ◽

Reserve Officers Training Corps

IntroductionConcussions have been associated with an increased risk of lower-extremity musculoskeletal injury (LE-MSI) in athletes and US Army soldiers, creating an added economic, physical and social burden. Yet, there is a paucity of evidence on this relationship among Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets, a group which engages in activities with high-injury risk and will subsequently commission as active duty officers. This study aimed to examine the association between concussions and LE-MSI in ROTC cadets.Methods125 (83 were male) Army and Air Force ROTC cadets (19.8±2.0 years) from two large state universities’ Army and Air Force ROTC programmes participated in this study. Cadets completed a reliable injury history questionnaire to ascertain the following variables of interest: (1) any concussion history, (2) reported concussions, (3) undiagnosed concussions, and (4) potentially unrecognised concussion history and LE-MSI history (eg, ankle sprain, knee sprain or muscle strain). Data were analysed using a χ2 test for association and binary logistic regression to determine ORs.ResultsCadets with any concussion history (n=42) had a significantly (p=0.035) higher association with LE-MSI (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.05 to 5.83) than those without. Cadets who had a reported concussion (n=33) had a significantly (p=0.026) higher association with LE-MSI (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.11 to 7.84) compared to cadets without.ConclusionsROTC cadets with a history of diagnosed concussion were more likely to have suffered an LE-MSI than cadets without a concussion history. ROTC cadre should be aware of this relationship and incorporate injury prevention protocols.

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Reserve Officers' Training Corps Study Group Report. Volume 1. Main Report

10.21236/ada175989 ◽

1986 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Wilson E. Barnes

Keyword(s):

Study Group ◽

Group Report ◽

Training Corps ◽

Reserve Officers Training Corps

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Injury risk profile of amateur Irish women soccer players and players’ opinions on risk factors and prevention strategies

Physical Therapy in Sport ◽

10.1016/j.ptsp.2021.05.008 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tahani A. Alahmad ◽

Audrey C. Tierney ◽

Roisin M. Cahalan ◽

Nassr S. Almaflehi ◽

Amanda M. Clifford

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Injury Risk ◽

Risk Profile ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Prevention Strategies ◽

Irish Women

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Understanding cognitive performance during exercise in Reserve Officers’ Training Corps: establishing the executive function-exercise intensity relationship

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.00483.2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 129 (4) ◽

pp. 846-854

Author(s):

Brandon L. Stone ◽

Madison Beneda-Bender ◽

Duncan L. McCollum ◽

Jongjoo Sun ◽

Joseph H. Shelley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Executive Function ◽

Executive Functioning ◽

Exercise Intensity ◽

Cognitive Change ◽

Heart Rate Reserve ◽

Graded Exercise ◽

The Brain ◽

Training Corps ◽

Reserve Officers Training Corps

The executive functioning aspect of cognition was evaluated during graded exercise in Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets. Executive function declined at exercise intensities of ≥80% of heart rate reserve. The decline in executive function was coupled with declines in the oxygenation of the prefrontal cortex, the brain region responsible for executive functioning. These data define the executive function-exercise intensity relationship and provide evidence supporting the reticular activation hypofrontality theory as a model of cognitive change.

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Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes in Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Cadets

Military Medicine ◽

10.1093/milmed/usab521 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kara N Radzak ◽

Katherine J Hunzinger ◽

Katelyn M Costantini ◽

C Buz Swanik ◽

Thomas A Buckley

Keyword(s):

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Physical Damage ◽

Knowledge And Attitudes ◽

Institutional Review ◽

Rotc Cadets ◽

Concussion Knowledge ◽

Knowledge And Attitude ◽

Training Corps ◽

Reserve Officers Training Corps

ABSTRACT Introduction Military members’ knowledge of concussion signs and symptoms may be critical to appropriate concussion identification and health-seeking behavior, particularly for those in leadership roles. The current study aimed to characterize concussion knowledge and attitudes among future military officers undergoing U.S.-based Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) training. Materials and Methods Army and Air Force ROTC cadets at 2 large, public universities were utilized for a survey-based observational study. The study was approved by the institutional review board at both university research sites. Cadets completed a modified Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitude Survey to obtain cadets’ Concussion Knowledge Index and Concussion Attitude Index, where higher scores are preferable. Cadets’ concussion knowledge and attitudes were characterized via descriptive statistics. Results Cadets (n = 110) had a mean Concussion Knowledge Index of 18.8 ± 3.2 (range = 9–23, out of 25). Potentially detrimental misconceptions included: belief that typically concussion symptoms no longer persist after 10 days (79.1%) and brain imaging shows visible physical damage following concussion (74.5%). Mean Concussion Attitude Index was 60.6 ± 7.4 (range = 46–75, out of 75). In general, cadets reported higher agreement with safe concussion behavior than what they believe peers would report. Conclusions Cadets were found to have a high concussion knowledge, yet common misconceptions remained. Cadets consistently reported safe choices but were less sure that peers felt similarly; future investigations should evaluate ROTC concussion social norms and education should note peers’ beliefs supporting safe concussion attitudes.

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