Medical Logistics - Army Logistics University - U.S. Army

Measures to Prevent Profiles
in Combat Support Commands
by li e u t e n a n t sarah D. th o M a s, usn
Soldiers on duty-limiting medical profiles offer
reduced benefits to commands that provide logistics
support to operations in Iraq. Medical limitations
can prevent a Soldier from wearing body armor or
driving, leaving fewer Soldiers to perform a steady workload.
For units already undermanned, medical issues can
compromise mission success.
Between March and August 2007, shoulder and
back pain complaints among Soldiers of the 377th
Theater Support Command were numerous. Because
of the physical demands of the environment, many
ailments became chronic despite rest and required
physical therapy. Recognizing this injury trend, the
command identified measures for preventing injury in
order to reduce physical therapy visits and avoid lost
work hours. Two areas identified as causing injury to
Soldiers were ill-fitting body armor and misaligned
vehicle seats.
Shoulder Pain and Individual Body Armor
Prolonged wear of the interceptor body armor outer
tactical vest (OTV) is frequently blamed for common
complaints of neck and shoulder pain. Thirty percent of
the physical therapy referrals at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait,
in March 2007 were related to pain caused by OTV
wear. The OTV is being replaced in direct combat roles
Note how the ill-fitted outer tactical vest does
not align at the front closing.
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with a newer model known as the modular tactical
vest, but the OTV is still issued to active duty members
in ancillary roles, such as supply, transportation, and
training commands.
The OTV should be worn tightly around the torso to
protect core organs from some types of small projectiles.
The vest, with two small-arms protective inserts,
weighs approximately 17 pounds. The additional burden
of side, shoulder, groin, throat, and neck pieces,
plus the enhanced tactical load-carrying vest and
individual equipment belt, can result in a total system
weight of more than 60 pounds.
When worn tightly on the torso with minimal shoulder
contact, the OTV attempts to distribute its weight
along the surface area of the ribcage. If the vest is
not adjusted correctly, the tactical load rests directly
and disproportionately on the smaller surface area of
the shoulders. Over a prolonged period, the weight
of the system pushing down on the upper extremities
can fatigue muscles, compress nerves, impinge on the
shoulder rotator cuff, reduce available range of motion,
and cause pain. Even if patients improved after a
period of light duty and shoulder rehabilitation, many
complained of pain after returning to OTV wear when
their shoulders again became the focal point of weight
distribution.
The Soldier looks up as he adjusts the OTV to
clear his chin from the path of the neckline.
NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2008