A preliminary investigation by a self-administered questionnaire of the sports nutritional knowledge of serving and veteran United Kingdom Armed Forces personnel who have undergone traumatic limb amputation during operational service
By Geoffrey Cornwell - MSc in Nutrition Science and Practice
Abstract
Background
The worldwide rise of the use by terrorists and insurgents of the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) has resulted in a surge in recent years in the numbers of military personnel losing limbs due to traumatic amputation. Once rehabilitation has ended the opportunities exist to train and compete in sporting activities from recreational to elite levels, a key part of a training strategy for any athlete is nutrition. Unfortunately, research suggests that this guidance is not being implemented in today’s athletes, with a poor understanding or a lack of sports nutrition knowledge a prime cause.
Aims and Objectives
The present study aimed to evaluate the current sports nutrition knowledge of amputees, who have served or continue to serve in the UK Armed Forces.
Methods
The present study utilised a closed question self-administered sports nutrition questionnaire administered on-line to 274 Armed Forces amputees. Due to the limited amount of data from a small sample size the data for the present study was reported using percentages as a common comparison measure with the associated numerators and denominators to provide perspective.
Results
Only 17 participants agreed to take part in the present study, with 14 completing the questionnaire, indicating a response rate of 6%. All 14 of 14 participants (100%) were male with the majority 8 of 14 participants (57%) aged between 30 to 39 years old, most reported (8 of 14 participants, 57%) that they rated their knowledge of sports nutrition as average. The highest level of knowledge based on composite scores of the number of correct responses appears in the nutrients and weight loss sub-categories. There was a a nominal link between participants who had received nutrition advice and (a) participants in the age bracket of 40+ year age group and (b) correct responses to the questions regarding nutrients and weight loss sub-categories.
Conclusion
In conclusion, due to a small sample size and the use of a sports nutrition questionnaire validated in 2005 it would be inappropriate and misleading to make broad assumptions concerning the level of sports nutrition knowledge in the United Kingdom Armed Forces amputees who participated in the present study. However, the results indicate that UK Armed Forces amputees who participated in the present study may benefit from receiving advice from sports nutrition professionals and undertaking formal nutrition training. Future research should use a validated sports nutrition questionnaire, improve the data collection process and seek a greater response rate.
