Research Paper Title
Fast-roping Injuries among Army Rangers: A Retrospective Survey of an Elite Airborne Battalion.
Background
Fast-roping is a modified rappelling technique used by civilian and military special operations forces that frequently produces injuries. Highly classified until recently, fast-roping is poorly understood from a medical perspective.
Methods
This paper presented a brief description of fast-roping and a retrospective survey of the types of fast-roping injuries sustained in a US Army Ranger battalion.
Results
Injuries are similar to parachute landing fall injuries, but show a greater propensity for ankle injuries (30% of all injuries).
Conclusions
The mechanisms of injury include landing injuries after a controlled descent and falls from a great height when an individual loses control of the rope.
Reference
Kragh, J.F. & Taylor, D.C. (1995) Fast-roping Injuries among Army Rangers: A Retrospective Survey of an Elite Airborne Battalion. Military Medicine. 160(6), pp.277-279.