Musculoskeletal injury in military specialists: A 2-year retrospective study
Musculoskeletal injury in military specialists: A 2-year retrospective study
Background Military specialists are elite personnel who are trained to work across diverse operational environments where a high level of physical conditioning is a prerequisite for their role. Anecdotally, personnel are acknowledged to be at high risk of developing musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs). However, there are presently no published data on this UK military population to support this view. This is the first (2-year) retrospective epidemiological study to identify the MSKI sustained by this military population.
Methods All MSKI reported over a 2-year period (January 2018–December 2019) were recorded to identify the incidence, frequency, nature, onset, cause, location and reporting times. Injuries were described using injury count and relative frequency (percentage). Time at risk for each personnel day was calculated as 365 days.
Results A total of 199 personnel reported 229 injuries over the reporting periods. The injury incidence rates were 26.8 personnel per 100 person years (2018) and 27.7 personnel per 100 person years (2019), respectively. Military training accounted for the highest number of injuries (32%), followed by ‘other injuries’ (28%), personal training (28%) and sport (12%). The leading activity associated with injury was weight training (15%), followed by running (11%) and military exercise (10%). Lower extremity injuries accounted for the highest number of injuries (40%), followed by trunk (36%) and upper extremity (24%) injuries.
Conclusion This study identifies the MSKI profile of a military specialist population over a 2-year period. Areas where modifiable risk factors may be identified to reduce risk of injury are highlighted. Recommendations for further research include investigating injury burden and the impact of injury on operational readiness.
Musculoskeletal disorders, Sports medicine, rehabilitation medicine
Hayhurst, Debra Joanne
43356836-baf9-4a81-83bc-b16b3d1a54cc
Warner, Martin
f4dce73d-fb87-4f71-a3f0-078123aa040c
Stokes, Maria
71730503-70ce-4e67-b7ea-a3e54579717f
Fallowfield, Joanne L.
23c18744-6b1c-4596-9de2-a78e82dbc423
Hayhurst, Debra Joanne
43356836-baf9-4a81-83bc-b16b3d1a54cc
Warner, Martin
f4dce73d-fb87-4f71-a3f0-078123aa040c
Stokes, Maria
71730503-70ce-4e67-b7ea-a3e54579717f
Fallowfield, Joanne L.
23c18744-6b1c-4596-9de2-a78e82dbc423
Hayhurst, Debra Joanne, Warner, Martin, Stokes, Maria and Fallowfield, Joanne L.
(2022)
Musculoskeletal injury in military specialists: A 2-year retrospective study.
BMJ Military Health, [002165].
(doi:10.1136/military-2022-002165).
Abstract
Background Military specialists are elite personnel who are trained to work across diverse operational environments where a high level of physical conditioning is a prerequisite for their role. Anecdotally, personnel are acknowledged to be at high risk of developing musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs). However, there are presently no published data on this UK military population to support this view. This is the first (2-year) retrospective epidemiological study to identify the MSKI sustained by this military population.
Methods All MSKI reported over a 2-year period (January 2018–December 2019) were recorded to identify the incidence, frequency, nature, onset, cause, location and reporting times. Injuries were described using injury count and relative frequency (percentage). Time at risk for each personnel day was calculated as 365 days.
Results A total of 199 personnel reported 229 injuries over the reporting periods. The injury incidence rates were 26.8 personnel per 100 person years (2018) and 27.7 personnel per 100 person years (2019), respectively. Military training accounted for the highest number of injuries (32%), followed by ‘other injuries’ (28%), personal training (28%) and sport (12%). The leading activity associated with injury was weight training (15%), followed by running (11%) and military exercise (10%). Lower extremity injuries accounted for the highest number of injuries (40%), followed by trunk (36%) and upper extremity (24%) injuries.
Conclusion This study identifies the MSKI profile of a military specialist population over a 2-year period. Areas where modifiable risk factors may be identified to reduce risk of injury are highlighted. Recommendations for further research include investigating injury burden and the impact of injury on operational readiness.
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Accepted/In Press date: 9 September 2022
e-pub ahead of print date: 29 September 2022
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© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Keywords:
Musculoskeletal disorders, Sports medicine, rehabilitation medicine
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Local EPrints ID: 470781
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/470781
ISSN: 2633-3775
PURE UUID: 29edf09b-6e3a-464a-bbc5-bee363965667
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Date deposited: 19 Oct 2022 17:09
Last modified: 06 Jun 2024 01:42
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Author:
Debra Joanne Hayhurst
Author:
Joanne L. Fallowfield
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