Predicting Injury Of Military Personnel And Athletes

Main Category: Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness;  Bones / Orthopaedics
Article Date: 21 Aug 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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MILITARY personnel and sporting professionals could soon be ensuring a far longer period of career success, thanks to a landmark study commissioned in Suffolk.

The first ever randomised trial of its kind* has proven that injury rate among military professionals can be predicted and reduced, as a result of special technology.

A total of 400 new entry trainees were assessed at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in a study led by Dr Andrew Franklyn-Miller. Over 3 years, he researched the trainee population using state-of-the-art equipment supplied by Suffolk-based Footfunction Centre.

The RSscan footscan system, devised by RSscan Lab Ltd and used at the Centre, works by measuring vertical force over a number of sensors and then enables a D3D orthotic to be created. Figures collated this month now show that prescription of this specialist orthotic can reduce injury rate by as much as 31 per cent in those at high and medium risk of injury - but as much as 78 pc in the high risk category.

The finding is a significant one for the military, in which many trainees are lost from duty and ongoing time-dependent training due to injury (particularly lower limb injury). It typically costs £2,000 per week for a trainee to be out with injury.

It will also be music to the ears of those in the sporting profession, proving that injury can be predicted and prevented.

This was an independent study by the Military of Defense where Andrew Franklin Miller led the study.

"We are delighted with the results of the trial," said Ms Smith-Rewse of the Foot Function Centre. "Our work at the Centre has long been confirming that the technology really can predict and reduce injury, but now it has formed part of one of the largest randomized orthotic studies in the world.

"On a daily basis we see athletes, members of the military, and recreational sportsmen and women whose lives can be dramatically improved as a result of this kind of facility.

"We are delighted that now we can confidently share our success with the wider world on the basis of these exciting findings."

Chic Wilkinson, Clinical Team Manager at RAF Honington, has been using the orthotics produced by the Suffolk team and their technology.

He said: "The D3D Performance Orthotic is proving to be very successful in the treatment and management of many of the prevalent lower limb injuries seen in military recruit training.

"This research is a massive step forward and potentially means a saving of many thousands of pounds for the military.

"It typically costs £2000 per week to have a person out of training through injury. We needed proof that the right technology could help us predict and prevent that - and we now seem to have that evidence."

The clinical trial consisted of 400 male participants walked across a 18metre track with a 1m footscan® system, pressure measure system, in-bedded within. Only five tests were taken of each recruit and only 6 minutes were given to each participant. Analysis of taken data and three risk groups were formed of likelihood of injury: LOW, MEDIUM and HIGH.
The conclusions were that the Right Stride D3D™ orthotics reduced injury rate by 31% in those categorised as High and Medium risk groups combined and in the high risk group by as much of 78%!
The D3D™ orthotics are patented and are manufactured to very high standard and are supplied by RSscan Lab Ltd, UK.

*The author of the report believes this to be the first trial of its kind, ever.

The Footfunction™ Centre have dedicated health specialists in podiatry and biomechanics. Bespoke orthotics are manufactured on site, enabling quick and professional service.

RSscan Lab Ltd