The Relationship between The Physical Fitness and Injuries among the Participants of Basic Air Borne Course

Abstract

The Objective of this study was to investigate the association between baseline physical fitness level and military static-line parachute injuries in basic airborne trainees of the Special warfare school. A prospective cohort study was conducted among 1,375 military personnel who attended the airborne training program of the Royal Thai Army during 2020. Data about 5 physical fitness tests (2-mile running, 2-minute sit up and push up, pull up, and 100-meter swimming), personal demographics and health histories were collected at baseline, while the occurrence of static-line parachute injuries were observed during five rounds of parachute jump after the ground training. Associations between baseline physical fitness tests and subsequent parachute injury were determined by analyzing Multi-level Poisson Regression and using the Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) as the risk measure.

Result showed that the incidence rate of parachute injury was 34.40 per 1,000 jumps (95%CI: 30.16-39.24). Lower level of 2-mile running capacity was significantly related to the injury [Adjusted IRR (95%CI): 1.75 (1.52-2.00)]. Conclusion, Baseline running fitness level associate with military static-line parachute injuries in basic airborne trainees.