Impact of Sock Systems on Frequency and Severity of Blister Injury in a Marine Recruit Population
Abstract
Historically, blisters have plagued the feet of infantry forces and reduced the combat effectiveness of military units. The purpose of this study was to test the ability of prototype sock system to reduce blister incidence in Marine recruits at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC, from May to August, 1992. Subjects were separated into three groups. The first group wore the standard issue sock consisting of a woolcotton-nylon-spandex combination (group SS, N=160). The second group wore the standard sock with a thin inner sock consisting of polyester (group SL, N=106). The third group wore the same thin inner sock and a thick, dense, prototype outer sock consisting of a wool- polypropylene combination (group PL, N=91). Recruits in the PL group suffered significantly fewer blisters compared to recruits in either the SS roup (40% vs 69%, p<0.001) or the SL group (40% vs 77%, p<0.001). The rate of lister occurrence was also less in the PL group (11 blisters/100 recruits/week) compared to the SS group (28 blisters/100 recruits/week) or the SL group (26 blisters/100 recruits/week). Blisters serious enough to require a sick call visit occurred with greater frequency in the ss group compared to both the PL group (24.4% vs 11.0%, p-0.02) and the SL group (24.4% vs 9.4%, p<0.01); there was no difference between the SL and PL groups. Blister reduction was most apparent in the early weeks of recruit training. The prototype sock system reduced the overall incidence and severity of blisters in Marine recruit training.... Blisters, Preventive sock, Injury prevention.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA263581
Entities
People
- Bruce H. Jones
- Joseph J Knapik
- Kenneth J. Thompson
- Murray P. Hamlet
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine