Musculoskeletal injuries in officer training: one-year follow-up. 1998

T Heir
Institute of Military Issues, Norwegian University of Sport and Physical Education, Oslo, Norway.

This study attempts to map the incidence and types of musculoskeletal injury during officer training. Officer cadets from three training schools (N = 321) were monitored through a 1-year training course. A total of 278 injuries were sustained by 194 of the 321 cadets (60%). The incidence was highest during an introductory 5- or 6-week period of intensive basic training. During this period, rates at various training schools ranged from 26.7 to 45.5 injuries per 100 cadet-months, which was five to nine times higher than during the rest of the year. The most common types of injury were overuse knee injuries, periostitis or compartment syndromes, Achilles tendinitis, and sprains of joint capsules or ligaments. Women and older cadets sustained more injuries than their respective male (p = 0.02) or younger (p = 0.02) counterparts. The study shows that musculoskeletal injuries occur frequently during officer training, especially during the first weeks. Recommendations for injury prevention include a more gentle start with slower progression in strain, slow introduction of combat boots, and differentiation of strain according to individual risk factors such as age and gender.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008889 Military Personnel Persons including soldiers involved with the armed forces. Air Force Personnel,Armed Forces Personnel,Army Personnel,Coast Guard,Marines,Navy Personnel,Sailors,Soldiers,Submariners,Military,Force Personnel, Air,Personnel, Air Force,Personnel, Armed Forces,Personnel, Army,Personnel, Military,Personnel, Navy,Sailor,Soldier,Submariner
D009141 Musculoskeletal System The MUSCLES, bones (BONE AND BONES), and CARTILAGE of the body. Musculoskeletal Systems,System, Musculoskeletal,Systems, Musculoskeletal
D009664 Norway A country located in northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden. The capital is Oslo. Kingdom of Norway
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012307 Risk Factors An aspect of personal behavior or lifestyle, environmental exposure, inborn or inherited characteristic, which, based on epidemiological evidence, is known to be associated with a health-related condition considered important to prevent. Health Correlates,Risk Factor Scores,Risk Scores,Social Risk Factors,Population at Risk,Populations at Risk,Correlates, Health,Factor, Risk,Factor, Social Risk,Factors, Social Risk,Risk Factor,Risk Factor Score,Risk Factor, Social,Risk Factors, Social,Risk Score,Score, Risk,Score, Risk Factor,Social Risk Factor
D014947 Wounds and Injuries Damage inflicted on the body as the direct or indirect result of an external force, with or without disruption of structural continuity. Injuries,Physical Trauma,Trauma,Injuries and Wounds,Injuries, Wounds,Research-Related Injuries,Wounds,Wounds and Injury,Wounds, Injury,Injury,Injury and Wounds,Injury, Research-Related,Physical Traumas,Research Related Injuries,Research-Related Injury,Trauma, Physical,Traumas,Wound

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