Risk Factors for Lower Extremity Tendinopathies in Military Personnel.

摘要

To prospectively identify risk factors for the development of lower extremity tendinopathy in U.S. military personnel, we utilized baseline data from the Millennium Cohort Study. Service members were enrolled in the Cohort in 2001, 2004, and 2007. We followed 80,106 active-duty subjects for the development of patellar tendonitis, Achilles tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis over 1 year as assessed by review of Department of Defense medical records. Regression analyses were used to estimate significant associations between tendinopathy outcomes and demographic, behavioral, and occupational characteristics. Medical record queries identified 443,575, and 1214 cases of Achilles tendinitis, patellar tendinitis, and plantar fasciitis, respectively. Recent deployment was associated with an increased risk for developing plantar fasciitis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04, 1.56). Moderate weekly alcohol use was associated with an increased risk for Achilles tendinitis (AOR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.02, 1.78). Overweight or obese individuals were more likely to develop both Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis. Specific occupations, including health care workers, were at significantly higher risk for developing plantar fasciitis. Lower extremity tendinopathies are common among military service members, and this study identified several modifiable risk factors for their occurrence. These potential risk factors should be the focus of future preventive and intervention studies.