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Does Self-efficacy Predict Outcomes Among U.S. Military Academy Cadets During Initial Entry Training?

NCT05453110 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 903

Last updated 2025-11-04

Study results available
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Summary

Background:

Lower back injuries are a common occurrence in athletes, sports programs, and in the military (Bengtsson, 2018; Lovalekar, 2021). The Army's new fitness test includes a three-repetition maximum deadlift, and this inclusion has raised concern amongst servicemembers and healthcare workers due to the association between deadlifts and lower back injuries. There is debate amongst researchers about the role of deadlift form in lower back injury prevention, specifically related to flexion of the spine (Sjoberg, 2020).

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of low back pain education (either cautionary regarding injury risk or reassuring regarding spine resiliency) on deadlift performance (weight lifted), and if this education has an effect on self-efficacy and perceived spine vulnerability.

Participants:

Participants will be incoming new cadets at the United States Military Academy (USMA). Inclusion criteria are cadets age 17-26 (cadets under the age of 18 are legally emancipated therefore able to consent), those participating in the ACFT, and speak and understand English.

Study Design:

This study will be a randomized controlled trial with parallel design and 1:1 allocation ratio. The investigators plan to use cluster randomization. There will be three groups- control, cautionary, reassuring (Jackson, 2005). The investigators are also planning a prospective cohort study to assess self-efficacy, injury, and performance over time.

Procedures:

Data will be collected at the United States Military Academy during the summer of 2022 during cadet basic training. Shortly after new cadets arrive at USMA, the investigators will gather demographic and initial self-efficacy information. The randomized control element of this study will occur before and during the maximum deadlift (MDL) of the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT). At the start of cadet basic training, investigators will randomly allocate each company of cadets into one of three groups (three companies per group.) The investigator will administer the education (cautionary, reassuring, or control) shortly prior to cadets taking the MDL, and will collect results after the ACFT. The cautionary education is similar to standard information provided to many servicemembers before the start of an ACFT or a maximum deadlift.

Conditions

  • Low Back Pain
  • Musculoskeletal Injury

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Deadlift Form Education

The education will include information about the lumbar spine as it relates to a deadlift. The researchers will administer this education shortly prior to participants taking a strength test.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Keller Army Community Hospital

    lead FED

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
17 Years
Max Age
26 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2022-07-04
Primary Completion
2022-08-02
Completion
2023-06-08

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05453110 on ClinicalTrials.gov