Military medicine
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Influence of Self-managed Rehabilitation on Work Efficiency in Active Duty Military With a Knee Injury.
Knee injuries associated with intense physical training are one of the most frequent injuries associated with medical encounters for military members. The purpose of this study was to evaluate four approaches to physiotherapy rehabilitation and their effects on work efficiency in active duty military with a knee injury. The four groups included neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), walking with a weighted vest (WALK), combined NMES/Walk, and standard physiotherapy rehabilitation. All groups received standard physiotherapy rehabilitation.We have previously reported that quadriceps muscle strength improved over 18 weeks in the study for the three interventions relative to standard rehabilitation alone. This report presents results from an examination of work efficiency as evaluated during a step test while measuring oxygen utilization. ⋯ All groups showed improved submaximal exercise efficiency based on oxygen utilization, with the intervention groups showing a greater improvement in work efficiency as compared to standard rehabilitation. Knee injuries can be problematic for active duty members because of reduced mobility leading to deconditioning and associated declines in work efficiency. Rehabilitative programs, including those described in this study, may minimize loss of work efficiency and fitness and promote a quicker recovery.
-
Military personnel are at increased risk of asymmetric hearing loss secondary to noise exposure. This report illustrates the importance of expeditiously evaluating for retrocochlear pathology even in young active duty service members with asymmetric or sudden hearing loss. A 36-year-old male presented with right-sided sudden hearing loss and dizziness. ⋯ Despite preservation of the facial nerve, progression of post-operative facial weakness required gold weight placement to prevent exposure keratopathy. The patient had recovered partial function in all facial nerve branches at last follow-up. In light of the rising global incidence of VS, any asymmetric or sudden hearing loss in military service members should be evaluated with audiometry and referral to otolaryngology for workup of retrocochlear pathology.
-
The purpose of this study was to report on the career accomplishments of Public Health Service (PHS) alumni from the Uniformed Services University (USU) School of Medicine (SOM) in several professional areas such as specialty choice, board certification rates, leadership roles, academic achievements, deployments, and length of service. ⋯ Our findings suggest that PHS alumni are likely to enter primary care specialties, engage in medical volunteering and humanitarian missions, frequently remain in uniform longer than their initial active duty commitment, and are affiliated with numerous universities and medical schools throughout their career. PHS alumni appear to be successfully meeting the mission set forth by the U.S. PHS.
-
Thousands of military personnel have suffered severe wounds and traumatic amputations in recent overseas conflicts. They face multiple surgeries and long, painful rehabilitation. Despite the tremendous stress for these servicemen and families, many appear to cope quite well and even thrive despite their devastating wounds. Hardiness is a world view or mindset marked by high levels of commitment and engagement in the world, a strong sense of control, and the tendency to see change as a challenge and opportunity to learn and improve. Previous research has shown that military personnel high in hardiness are at lower risk for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and other psychiatric symptoms following combat exposure. This study evaluated the impact of personality hardiness on post-traumatic growth (PTG) and psychological well-being in severely wounded service members and their spouses. ⋯ These results suggest that seriously wounded military members and their spouses who are high in hardiness are more likely to experience PTG and psychological well-being following extremely stressful experiences. Hardiness entails positive reframing of negative experiences as opportunities and challenges to overcome, and taking action to solve problems. Training programs to increase hardiness attitudes and related coping skills may thus be beneficial in facilitating healthy adaptation for severely injured patients.