Effectiveness of an outside-the-boot ankle brace in reducing parachuting related ankle injuries.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To examine the efficacy of an outside-the-boot parachute ankle brace (PAB) in reducing risk of ankle injury to army paratrooper trainees and to identify inadvertent risks associated with PAB use.

DESIGN:

The authors compared hospitalization rates for ankle, musculoskeletal, and other traumatic injury among 223,172 soldiers trained 1985-2002 in time periods defined by presence/absence of PAB use protocols. Multiple logistic regression analysis estimated adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals for injury outcomes, comparing pre and post brace periods to the brace protocol period.

SETTING:

A research database consisting of training rosters from the US Army Airborne training facility (Fort Benning, GA) occupational, demographic, and hospitalization information.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Injuries were considered training related if they occurred during a five week period starting with first scheduled static line parachute jump and a parachuting cause of injury code appeared in the hospital record.

RESULTS:

Of 939 parachuting related hospitalizations during the defined risk period, 597 (63.6%) included an ankle injury diagnosis, 198 (21.1%) listed a musculoskeletal (non-ankle) injury, and 69 (7.3%) cited injuries to multiple body parts. Risk of ankle injury hospitalization was higher during both pre-brace (adjusted OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.92 to 2.95) and post-brace (adjusted OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.27 to 2.32) periods compared with the brace protocol period. Odds of musculoskeletal (non-ankle) injury or injury to multiple body parts did not change between the brace and post-brace periods.

CONCLUSION:

Use of a PAB during airborne training appears to reduce risk of ankle injury without increasing risk of other types of traumatic injury.

• Authors: M D Schmidt, S I Sulsky, P J Amoroso
• Journal: Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention (Inj Prev) Vol. 11 Issue 3 Pg. 163-8 (Jun 2005) ISSN: 1353-8047 [Print] England
• PMID: 15933409 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Ankle Injuries (epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Aviation
• Braces (standards)
• Cohort Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Military Personnel
• Protective Devices
• United States (epidemiology)