Hip injuries plague Marines after intense training

Hip injuries plague Marines after intense training
Story by Lance Cpl. Jackeline Perez Rivera

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Intense training is part of being a Marine. As a part of America’s expeditionary force in readiness, Marines are tasked to remain well-trained and prepared for any number of conflicts and emergencies.

This arduous physical activity may lead to injuries, including injuries to the hips.

Injuring the hip, the largest ball-and-socket joint in the human body, can be very painful experience. It can lead to months of physical rehabilitation where a person is limited to crutches, and may require surgery.

Many hip injuries are due to training in some form, from initial training such as recruit training, Marine Combat Training, or Marine occupational specialty training to specialized training like Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training.
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“[New Marines] enter a vastly different activity level that they had before,” said Cmdr. Michael Kuhn, the head of arthroscopic and sports medicine reconstruction, and orthopedics at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune. “They’re going from very mild to moderate activity to high-impact activities.” New Marines’ bodies are not adjusted to the tempo of training and may have little time to recover, leading to injuries such as stress fractures.

While Marines are encouraged to report injuries and get treatment, many are prone to hiding their symptoms.