Injuries from Participation in Sports, Exercise, and Recreational Activities Among Active Duty Service Members - Analysis of the April 2008 Status of Forces Survey of Active Duty Members.

摘要

Sports and athletics is a leading cause of injury hospitalizations for U.S. military forces and of injury air evacuations for deployed service members (SM) in Iraq and Afghanistan. From 24 March to 1 May 2008, 10,692 SMs completed the April 2008 Status of Forces Survey of Active Duty Members (SOFA0801), which included eleven questions about injuries from participation in sports, exercise, and recreational activities (SERA) in the past year. The survey employed a complex sampling procedure, which allowed for survey respondents to be representative of all active duty service members from the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. Forty-nine percent of SMs sustained an injury (of any type) and 25% sustained a SERA injury in the past 12 months. The Marine Corps had the highest proportion of SMs with a SERA injury (33%), followed by the Army (29 percent), Air Force (22%), and Navy (20%). Compared to 21- 30 year olds, 31-40 year olds and SMs over 40 years had a 19% and 55%, respectively, higher odds of SERA injury. Higher levels of personal stress and working longer hours than normal duty hours on more days were associated with higher odds of SERA injury. Running/jogging was the most frequently reported (45%) cause of SERA injury. The leading injuries for the most serious SERA injury were sprained ankles (10%), strained backs (6%), sprained knees (5%), and tendonitis/bursitis of the knee (5%). These findings emphasize the importance of SERA activities as a leading cause of injuries in the military and identify factors that should be further explored to decrease SERA-related injuries. Recommendations included 1) strict observance to evidence-based practices to reduce SERA-injury occurrences and 2)use of external cause codes in the electronic medical records by DoD medical providers to allow improved surveillance of injuries.