Examination of Interventions to Prevent Common Lower-Limb Injuries in the New Zealand Defense Force

The biomechanical mechanisms of lower-limb injuries in the New Zealand Defense Force were identified from the circumstances of the injuries, and injury prevention strategies that addressed these mechanisms examined for their applicability to a military setting. Many of the injuries were the result of rolling or twisting movements and ankle instability was a common causal factor. Ankle bracing and stability training were identified as the strategies that address this factor and are most likely to be effective in preventing the injuries. A successful intervention strategy must also take into account the particular requirements of the user group. Concerns with ankle bracing included ongoing costs, individual fitting requirements, and the inability to remain effective under extremes of physical activity and external conditions. Stability training was considered more appropriate than ankle bracing for the defense force. Stability training is low cost and has the ability to address the biomechanical mechanisms of several lower-limb injuries. However, it requires trialing in a military setting to assess the logistics of implementation and whether the reported sport-specific programs should be adjusted for the varied physical activities undertaken by military forces.