The plan to prevent injuries and medical downgrades in the Royal Navy

If you are in the Royal Marines or the Royal Navy, your job can be physically demanding and arduous at times.

Roughly 20% of those serving are medically downgraded – and half of those are due to musculoskeletal injuries.

The Navy has announced it will be working side-by-side with leading academics from Exeter, Bath and Southampton Universities this autumn to look at ways to reduce musculoskeletal injuries across the Navy and Royal Marines.

#forcesnews #royalnavy #royalmarines #health

[ClydeBuilt]

I served carrying very heavy loads at fearsome speed over honking ground. When I began doing good quality squats, bodyweight and air, I didn't get musculo-skeletal injuries below the waist. Lifting things from the ground to overhead took care of above the waist. Train like a

[ThePoochie]

Improve the nutrition. Food is awful and is covered in oil

[markyoung]

Historically the biggest injury cause was the Rope or Wall drop. Both onto solid ground. Both from circa 10ft .... Pretty much the same as a Para drop. All used to be done with 20-30lb pack and 10lb rifle. Cut out the no 1 injury causes and you reduce injuries by 70%. In my time we had instructors that would deliberately go onto rough ground while in a tight group. You could not see where your feet were going, . Result twisted strained ankles. Keep running and it can become a rupture. I actually broke a bone in my foot, ran on it for a couple of years till it got too painful, had surgery to remove bone and was fine or lucky. That was caused by medical misdiagnosis Made worse by endless runs and forced marches. This demonstrates a small injury can be career ending if not diagnosed and treated promptly. The reason the Army, Marines etc only serve till 42 Years of age is because by that time, your body is usually hammered. The solution to that is cyclic training rather than constant pounding .... The BFT (Battle Fitness Test) is done once per year. Yet most ground troops are trained well beyond BFT levels. Paras, Marines etc will do many many 20 mile forced marches. Most people will manage 22 years of such service, but most will also be quite physically damaged after 22 years. Therein lies an even bigger problem for society. The Military has a poor reputation for those injured and medically discharged in normal service (peacetime) It has a very good record of those injured in combat service. Back in the day before the Crown could be held accountable for compensation it was a case of "here is 6 months wage and be be gratefull, bye .... Nowadays it is a hard battle to get reasonable compensation, mainly because the pen pushers job is to give as little as possible and not a just reasonable amount. This problem is greatly aggrivated within Wales and Scotland, where local authorites and devolved governments do not uphold the military service charter. If the young people in Wales and Scotland knew that they would recieve absolutely zero help from thier devolved governments it would should make them think twice about a service life. Example :- If you live in Wales and get 100% injured in service, if you get more than 50k in compensation the Welsh Government will not provide one penny to assist you in adapting your home (average cost 50k). So in effect you get sweet FA.

[richardthornton]

At last! That’s a big step forward, and long overdue 👍

[stealthassasinday]

Cardio and mental toughness has always been the staple of militaries but without the proper strength training to support their heavy physical activities their bodies wont be able to handle the stress and break. Adding semi-heavy compound movement exercises are scientifically proven to reduce musculo-skeletal injuries.

[Ian]

Military has knackered my body up. But back in the early 90s nothing was done around injuries. It was the attitude of suck it up and do the job. I now have constant pain in my ankles, knees, lower back and shoulders. But the military do not care.

[Ripper]

The problem is a simple one! Long periods of no or little physical training coupled with lack of effective warming up is the big problem! It my sound daft, but yoga techniques are very effective at reducing injury!

[frazermountford]

I have watched a lot of documentaries about the armed forces and i have noted how they do seem to push people on if they are injured and i have never felt that is sustainable for the long term future. Maybe some of it is dramatized and other parts of it training to learn to push on if the going gets tough.

[robertnicholson]

Changed my career forever due to injury

[peaceraybob]

I've had five key-hole surgeries on the left knee alone, each lasting about 5 to 7 years before it was time to do it again. Now, however, after thirty years of service in the Navy, there is simply nothing left that any surgery short of complete knee replacements can do - and you need to put those off as long as possible. So, I'm getting slower and stiffer and ever less capable to handling stairs, but still hanging in there.
Here's hoping that the GLA-D (Good Living with Arthritis - Denmark) program actually achieves something. This is how the RAN is responding to these kinds of injuries, and I'm certainly hoping that there's more to it than marketing hype.

[carlseddon]

I got MD with arthritis I never got offered nothing in terms of another roll etc
This was in 98, things have changed a lot which it needed to

[derf]

What the RN needs to do is stop employing sea dodging folk. I've never met a service so afraid of going to sea with work shy attitude, they don't work a full day at all.

[jamesdoyle]

Once you injure yourself the physical therapists will show you all you are doing wrong. Very smart showing people how to use their bodies most efficiently and avoid injuries in the first place. 24 year sailor here in physical therapy and trying to undo the damage to my body. If the young Marines and Sailors can stay healthy and avoid pain that would be great.

[lonpfrb]

How about training physical training instructors to be responsible for causing injuries rather than just shouting at trainees to try harder. Injury is not a lack of determination, more likely a lack of accurate assessment of each athlete with planning, monitoring and support to reach their potential.

[nobodyisbest]

Heavy deadlifting and equally heavy squatting are all that's needed. Fairly common sense.

[sirrathersplendid]

Well known statistic that women suffer 4x the injuries of men on assault courses. Is this being taken into account?

[mairiconnell]

Many of the RM PTI's already have University Degrees in this subject why are you duplicating a service that you already have. Another expensive failure for the MOD. The diet is something that requires urgent attention. Pay to Dine another enormous failure.

[rogerthomson]

With RM training if you want to cut injuries and downgrade at a stroke stop the fireman’s carry and don’t play rugby.

[MrAttagon]

I mean they if rolled up there sleeves during rope climbing and obstacle course they can reduce injury lol

[mikewinston]

Stop serving members from becoming fat is the answer. Far too many service men and women are just too fat.