Epidemiology of Physical Training Injuries in U.S. Army Infantry Trainees: Methodology, Population, and Risk Factors

摘要

This is a longitudinal study of the epidemiology of training associated injuries conducted among 303 men in U.S. Army Infantry One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Benning, Georgia. The goals of this study include: A detailed anthropometric and historic evaluation of the population; a detailed description of the types of morbidity occurring during training; measures of the incidence of injuries; and identification and quantification of risk factors for injury. The subjects were assessed for potential risk factors for injuries via questionnaire and physical measures prior to the onset of training. All injuries occurring during 13 weeks of OSUT were identified. Of the 303 subjects entered into the study, 139 (45.9%) suffered at least one injury resulting in a sick-call visit. These injuries resulted in 969 days of lost or modified training. One hundred twelve (37%) experienced at least one musculoskeletal injury to the lower back or lower extremities. One hundred seventy two separate musculoskeletal injuries were experienced at 147 sites. Among the Army trainees, the sites and types of injury occurrence is generally similar in rank order to that reported in other studies, both civilian and military. This indicates that injuries being experienced among military trainees are of the same nature of those being experienced by other running populations. Keywords: Physical training, Training injuries, Army infantry training, Overuse injuries, Physical fitness. (kt)