Influence of combat boot types on in-shoe forces and perceived comfort during unloaded and loaded walking
Conclusions Combat boot features can influence perceived comfort ratings substantially during walking, whereas biomechanical differences among boot types are more subtle regardless of load conditions. The lack of relationship between comfort and force variables suggests that both subjective and objective measurements should be considered for comprehensive evaluation of combat boots. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 25, 2024 Category: General Medicine Authors: Yeo, E. X. S., Chhabra, K., Kong, P. W. Tags: Editor''s choice Original research Source Type: research

Core stabilisation exercises reduce chronic low back pain in Air Force fighter pilots: a randomised controlled trial
Conclusions The stabilisation exercise programme focused on the core muscles was successful in decreasing the fighter pilots’ chronic lumbar pain. Pilots are normally active; however, our results indicate that specific trunk training programmes should be offered considering the work needs of these subjects. Clinical trials ‘Exercise protocol for pilots with back pain’ (registered: 09 October 2018)—NCT03713814 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03713814). (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 25, 2024 Category: General Medicine Authors: Mendes, P. R. F., Gomes, S. R. A., Costa, L. D. O., Liguori, A. D. A. L., Bulhoes, L. C. C., Brasileiro, J. S. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Thoracic spinal anaesthesia for abdominal surgery in a humanitarian military field hospital: a prospective observational study
Conclusion TSA could be an effective anaesthetic technique for abdominal surgery in the context of a field hospital or austere environment. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 25, 2024 Category: General Medicine Authors: Aissaoui, Y., Bahi, M., El Khader, A., El Barni, R., Belhadj, A. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Followership: an undervalued concept in effective teams within the military and NHS
Conclusion This study gives insight into the attributes of doctors within the Defence Medical Services and laid out a methodology for further cohort evaluations of followership. It made recommendations on the areas of the field that require further research and how followership concepts may be included in further development courses and reporting for military medical personnel. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 25, 2024 Category: General Medicine Authors: Adams, T., Gibson, A. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Nutritional knowledge in British Army recruits during basic training
Conclusion British Army recruits, in particular standard-entry female and infantry recruits, have poor nutritional knowledge, which did not improve throughout basic training. Better nutritional intervention, especially surrounding carbohydrate and fluid education, is required during British Army basic training to optimise career-long dietary behaviour. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 25, 2024 Category: General Medicine Authors: Rawcliffe, A. J., Ogden, H. B., Rushmere, J., Morgan, A. S. L., Jacka, K., Struszczak, L., Chapman, S., Roberts, A. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Significance of tibial MRI findings of special forces recruits at the onset of their training
Conclusion Periosteal oedema, one of the hallmarks used in MRI grading systems to evaluate MTSS, was found to have a 37.7% false positive rate for anatomically corresponding tibial tenderness at the time of the examination and during subsequent training, indicating the grading systems’ low utility for the military. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 25, 2024 Category: General Medicine Authors: Milgrom, C., Tsur, N., Eshed, I., Milgrom, Y., Beyth, S., Spitzer, E., Gofman, I., Finestone, A. S. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation (ADMR): avoiding the pitfalls of 'the Walker Dip
This article describes the response ADMR have taken to meet and align with the requirements of the 2021 SDP. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 25, 2024 Category: General Medicine Authors: Coppack, R. J., Ladlow, P., Cassidy, R. P., Egginton, N., Barker-Davies, R., Houston, A., Lunt, K. M., O'Sullivan, O., Bennett, A. N. Tags: Analysis Source Type: research

Retraction: Impact of cold exposure on life satisfaction and physical composition of soldiers
(Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 25, 2024 Category: General Medicine Tags: Retraction Source Type: research

Musculoskeletal injuries in UK service personnel and the impact of in-theatre rehabilitation during cold weather warfare training: Exercise CETUS 2020
(Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - January 25, 2024 Category: General Medicine Authors: Ferraby, D., Hayhurst, D., Fallowfield, J. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research

Fellowships and defence engagement: from clinical niches to strategic impact
Medical fellowships have traditionally developed the individual rather than furthering military or national strategic objectives. This paper describes a medical fellowship with the British Antarctic Survey to illustrate the benefits to the individual, to the military and to wider international defence engagement efforts. By rebranding such fellowships as Defence Healthcare Engagement and by treating international organisations on a par with partner nations, the humble fellowship can facilitate enduring, mutually beneficial healthcare engagement at low cost and with minimal additional resources. (Source: Journal of the Roya...
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - November 22, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Lowe, J., Potter, D., Warner, M., Horne, S. Tags: Personal view Source Type: research

Injury modelling for strategic planning in protecting the national infrastructure from terrorist explosive events
Terrorist events in the form of explosive devices have occurred and remain a threat currently to the population and the infrastructure of many nations worldwide. Injuries occur from a combination of a blast wave, energised fragments, blunt trauma and burns. The relative preponderance of each injury mechanism is dependent on the type of device, distance to targets, population density and the surrounding environment, such as an enclosed space, to name but a few. One method of primary prevention of such injuries is by modification of the environment in which the explosion occurs, such as modifying population density and the d...
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - November 22, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Breeze, J., Fryer, R. N., Nguyen, T.-T. N., Ramasamy, A., Pope, D., Masouros, S. D. Tags: Editor''s choice Invited review Source Type: research

Are young military personnel at a disproportional risk of heat illness?
Heat illnesses (HI) define a continuum of conditions where patients become incapacitated due to uncompensable heat stress. In the military, HI has a significant health, financial and operational burden that requires vigilant management. Military training and operations regularly expose personnel to known HI risk factors, meaning that prevalence remains high despite stringent attempts to reduce risk to as low as reasonably practicable. While prepubertal children and elderly adults are widely demonstrated to be at greater risk of classic HI than young adults due to impaired physiological and/or behavioural thermoregulation, ...
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - November 22, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Ogden, H. B., Rawcliffe, A. J., Delves, S. K., Roberts, A. Tags: Open access Invited review Source Type: research

Emotional intelligence in military medical officers in the Defence Medical Services
Conclusion It was demonstrated that military doctors have consistently high EI score, especially at the most junior level. This suggests that traits deemed desirable by the single service selection processes also pertain to high EI without it being specifically measured for. The dangers of having too high EI and the benefits of having a range of EI within a team were discussed. There were limitations of being unable to obtain qualitative data and not including primary healthcare staff. Several recommendations were set out as to how the DMS may use or further investigate EI with regard to training and recruitment. (Source: ...
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - November 22, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: MacEwan, D., Gibson, A. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Risk factors for reflex syncope in the British Army
Conclusion This is the first study, in the British Army, to describe, categorise and establish potential risk factors for reflex syncope. Orthostatic-mediated reflex syncope is the most common cause in soldiers who regularly perform SCPD and this is further exacerbated by heat exposure. Soldiers do not use evidence-based methods to avoid reflex syncope. These data could be used to target interventions for SP who have previously fainted or to prevent fainting during SCPD. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - November 22, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Parsons, I. T., Ellwood, J., Stacey, M. J., Gall, N., Chowienczyk, P., Woods, D. R. Tags: Original research Source Type: research

Vitamin D levels in Portuguese military personnel
Conclusions We present data on vitamin D levels of Portuguese active duty military personnel. Our results found that military personnel are no more at risk of vitamin D inadequacy than civilians, but only a quarter of active duty military personnel had vitamin D sufficiency. Therefore, they can benefit from vitamin D levels assessment towards vitamin D levels optimisation. Further studies are still needed, especially among military personnel with higher risk of vitamin D deficiency. (Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps)
Source: Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps - November 22, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Henriques, M., Soares, P., Sacadura-Leite, E. Tags: Original research Source Type: research