ABSTRACT
Military service results in unique occupational demands that often require significant physical training and performance. Exposure to the physical demands of military service results in an increased risk of injury, including overuse injuries to bone, such as stress fractures, which may occur in association with unaccustomed repetitive physical activities. Initial military training (IMT) is the initial indoctrination of civilians to military service. During this 8–10-week course, military recruits are exposed to a series of physical training activities, including road marching with weighted packs, distance running, sprinting, and muscle strength training exercises. These activities, often repetitive and unaccustomed, result in an increased risk of stress fracture, as recruits engaging in IMT are up to 18 times more likely to experience a stress fracture than other active-duty personnel. The relative risk of fractures during IMT is significantly higher for women than for men.
