English

DTIC ADA025938: The Effects of Tropical and Leather Combat Boots on Lower Extremity Disorders Among US Marine Corps Recruits

A study was conducted among 12 recruit platoons at the US Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, to determine whether the use of tropical combat boot during training would significantly reduce the number of cases of lower extremity disorders compared to the number occurring when the leather combat boot was worn. to accomplish this, each of the 12 platoons was randomly divided into two footwear groups and approximately one-half of a platoon was issued tropical and the other half leather combat boots. Each recruit wore the boots issued to him throughout the twelve weeks of training. Podiatrists examined the feet of all test participants on four specified occasions over the course of training and noted any foot problems. These data were augmented by the diagnostic information generated from sick call visits made for lower extremity disorders. It was determined that the number of cases of heel contusions, toe paresthesia, and retrocalcaneal bursitis were significantly increased through the use of tropical boots and plantar fasciitis through the use of leather combat boots.

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