BACK PAIN IN MILITARY PERSONNEL AS A RESULT OF WEARING VARIOUS TYPES OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (BODY ARMOR) AND METHODS OF ITS PREVENTION THROUGH PHYSICAL THERAPY

Abstract

SUMMARY. The aim – to analyze and recommend the possibilities for implementing methods of spinal unloading and the occurrence of pain syndrome in this area among military personnel as a result of wearing body armor, both in field conditions and in medical institutions.

Material and Methods. The study employed bibliosemantic methods and methods of content and structural-logical analysis.

Results. Almost all Ukrainian soldiers who are currently participating in the fight against the enemy wear bulletproof vests and carry weapons, as well as volunteers who transport hundreds and thousands of kilograms of humanitarian aid, sufferring from problems with their spines and joints. There is a significant strain on these structures. Vertebrae "sinks" even in strong, trained men.

This is exactly why general fatigue, back pain, and pain throughout the body occur.

One of the reasons for the occurrence of spinal diseases in military personnel and the associated pain symptoms is the excessive amount of ammunition and improper weight distribution of equipment. Some soldiers place many items on their bulletproof vests, which also significantly affects the condition of the spine. This is related to the fact that the physical training of our fighters is not designed for such vertical loads. To avoid back problems, it is necessary to constantly train the stabilizing muscles that are involved in maintaining the vertical position of the body.

Dorsalgia is a symptom that characterizes the presence of a particular spinal disease and is often the first diagnostic sign of it. It can occur at any age, but is most commonly found in adulthood. This medical term is derived from the Latin words "dorsum" meaning back, and "algos" meaning pain, thus referring to back pain regardless of its location in men. This leads to overall fatigue, back pain, and pain throughout the body. On the front lines, back pain (dorsalgia) primarily occurs in soldiers due to the increased physical load on the spine as a result of wearing protective gear.

Back pain is one of the main reasons that compel combatants to seek medical assistance from specialists. Surveys show that one-third of adults experience suffering from this ailment in their everyday lives. This same issue is the most common factor for temporary disability and the issuance of sick leave certificates.

Back pain, especially acute pain, is a manifestation of many diseases that can lead to temporary or permanent loss of work capacity, and in wartime conditions, to the inability to participate in combat operations. To understand the cause of back pain, it is essential to comprehend the mechanism of its occurrence and to know and implement methods for its prevention in various conditions. This article is dedicated to that topic.

Conclusions. 1. As a result of the overstrain of the spinal column, its trauma of various origins and locations, prolonged incorrect wearing of body armor, and non-compliance with care rules, military personnel experience degenerative changes of varying severity in this segment of the body. There are morphological and functional disorders of different natures, an increase in specific personal disharmony as a consequence, and disruptions in the adaptive mechanisms regulating the body's posture. In connection with the formation of combined pathology in the affected individuals, there is a growing need to improve comprehensive assistance and implement new methods of physical rehabilitation for this issue. Currently, the creation of comprehensive, highly effective programs for the physical and psychological rehabilitation of the affected individuals, using targeted dosed physical loads, is particularly relevant.

1. The diversity of tasks requires the effective implementation of the latest rehabilitation methods in the recovery process of military personnel, including a variety of physical exercises that have proven their ability to shorten recovery times with a more qualitative prolonged effect when applied. The practical experience of utilizing these methods deserves broader integration into the clinical practice of our medical institutions and their use, whenever possible, by soldiers in field conditions as one of the tools for the prevention and restoration of health for both military personnel and civilians affected by the consequences of military actions in Ukraine.