DOI

https://doi.org/10.57709/36962038

Author ORCID Identifier

0009-0002-7602-8184

Date of Award

5-10-2024

Degree Type

Capstone Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Dr. Yi-An Chen

Second Advisor

Dr. Carolyn Podolski

Third Advisor

Dr. Sabrina Fordham

Abstract

Injuries among military personnel have become an increasingly worrisome issue, extensively documented over time. Reports have shown that only 85% of active-duty soldiers were deemed deployment-ready, with only 70% of Guard and Reserve forces meeting the same readiness criteria. Among these injuries, a significant majority (75%) are reported to be musculoskeletal in nature. Physical training injuries have comprised over 50% of Army injuries, with musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) ranking as the most common type. Moreover, there is a need for preventative measures that target individualization to reduce injuries in this population and should start early in their careers. The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program serves as the largest commissioning body of officers within the military, offering extensive military training at an officer level. It is recommended that ROTC cadets could be a vital target population for education on injury-preventative practices, given that they represent the largest source of military officers. A focus group with 10 cadet participants was conducted for this project. The findings revealed patterns suggesting the promising benefit of personalized exercise programs along with mental health support in enhancing understanding and adoption of rehabilitation methods. Therefore, this capstone developed a course that integrated created exercise programs, along with corresponding videos and mental readiness education and activities to help enhance the recovery process for cadets in the ROTC program at the University of North Georgia.

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