Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Research article

Injuries in Australian Army full-time and part-time personnel undertaking basic training

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2019

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Musculoskeletal injuries are a problem in military personnel as they detract from force readiness and may prevent deployment. Injuries occur during basic training at three times the rate observed in post-training military service and more commonly in part time (PT) when compared to full time (FT) army personnel. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in rates and patterns of reported injuries between full time (FT) and part time (PT) personnel undertaking army basic training.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to determine and compare rates and patterns of injuries which occurred during basic training in PT and FT personnel. Injury data from the period 01 July 2012 to 30 June 2014 was obtained in a non-identifiable format from the Workplace Health, Safety, Compensation and Reporting (WHSCAR) database of the Australian Department of Defence. Analysis included descriptive statistics and the calculation of injury rates and injury rate ratios.

Results

A total of 1385 injuries were reported across FT and PT cohorts, with an injury rate ratio for FT:PT of 1.06 [0.80–1.40], when accounting for exposure. In FT personnel, 1192 (90%) were Minor Personal Injuries (MPIs) and 43 (3.2%) Serious Personal Injuries (SPIs). In PT personnel, 147 (94.8%) were MPIs and three (1.9%) SPIs. In both FT and PT personnel, injuries most commonly: occurred during Physical Training (41.7% FT, 515 MPIs, 10 SPIs, 32% PT. 48 MPIs, 1 SPI); affected the knee (FT 41.7% 159 MPIs, 7 SPIs, PT 36.0%, 22 MPIs, 0 SPIs); involved soft tissue damage (FT 60.9%, 744 MPIs, 8 SPIs, PT 69.3%, 103 MPIs, 1 SPI); and were due to muscular stress (FT 41.7%, 509 MPIs, 6 SPIs, PT 36%, 54 MPIs, 0 SPIs).

Conclusions

FT and PT recruits exhibited similar injury profiles, with mechanisms, sites and types of injuries in agreement with other research. Given these similarities, effective interventions that reduce injury risks in either population will likely benefit both.
Literature
1.
Nindl BC, Williams TJ, Deuster PA, Butler NL, Jones BH. Strategies for optimizing military physical readiness and preventing musculoskeletal injuries in the 21st century. US Army Medical Department Journal. 2013:5–23.
2.
Sefton J, Lohse K, McAdam J. Prediction of injuries and injury types in Army basic training, infantry, armor, and cavalry trainees using a common fitness screen. J Athl Train. 2016;51(11):849–57.CrossRef
3.
Kaufman KR, Brodine S, Shaffer R: Military training-related injuries: surveillance, research, and prevention American Journal of Preventative Medicine 2000, 18(3):54–63.
4.
Pope R, Herbert R, Kirwan JD, Graham BJ. Predicting attrition in basic military training. Mil Med. 1999;164(10):710–4.CrossRef
5.
Pope R, Orr R. Incidence rates for work health and safety incidents and injuries in Australian Army reserve vs full time soldiers, and a comparison of reporting systems. Journal of Miltary and Veterans Health. 2017;25(2):16–25.
6.
Sherrard J, Lenné M, Cassell E, Stokes M, Ozanne-Smith J. Injury prevention during physical activity in the Australian Defence force. J Sci Med Sport. 2004;7(1):106–17.CrossRef
7.
Bulzacchelli MT, Sulsky SI, Rodriguez-Monguio R, Karlsson LH, Hill MOT. Injury during U.S. Army basic combat training: a systematic review of risk factor studies: a systematic review of risk factor studies. Am J Prev Med. 2014;47(6):813–22.CrossRef
8.
Grier T, Knapik J, Swedler D, Jones B. Association of Fitness and Injuries in military Services' basic training. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010;42(5):472.CrossRef
9.
Kucera KL, Marshall SW, Wolf SH, Padua DA, Cameron KL, Beutler AI. Association of Injury History and Incident Injury in cadet basic military training. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2016;48(6):1053.CrossRef
10.
Orr R, Ford K, Stierli M. Implementation of an ability-based training program in police force recruits. JStrength Cond Res. 2016;30(10):2781–7.CrossRef
11.
Roos L, Hofstetter M-C, Mäder U, Wyss T. Training methods and training Instructors' qualification are related to Recruits' fitness development during basic military training. J Strength Cond Res. 2015;29(Suppl 11):S178.CrossRef
12.
Popovich RM, Gardner JW, Potter R, Knapik JJ, Jones BH. Effect of rest from running on overuse injuries in Army basic training. Am J Prev Med. 2000;18(3):147–55.CrossRef
13.
Goodall RL, Pope RP, Coyle JA, Neumayer R. Balance and agility training does not always decrease lower limb injury risks: a cluster-randomised controlled trial. Int J Inj Control Saf Promot. 2013;20(3):271–81.CrossRef
14.
Ross J. A review of lower limb overuse injuries during basic military training. Part 1: types of overuse injuries. Mil Med. 1993;158(6):410–5.CrossRef
15.
Jones B, Canham-Chervak M, Canada S, Mitchener TA, Moore S. Medical surveillance of injuries in the U.S. military: descriptive epidemiology and recommendations for improvement. Am J Prev Med. 2010;38(1):S42–60.CrossRef
16.
Knapik J, Darakjy S, Hauret K, Canada S, Marin R, Scott S, Palkoska F, Vancamp S, Rieger W, Jones B. Effect of pre-conditioning on attrition, fitness, and injuries in army basic combat training. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004;36(5):S308.
17.
Williams AG. Effects of basic training in the British Army on regular and reserve army personnel. J Strength Cond Res. 2005;19(2):254–9.PubMed
18.
McDonald D, Orr RM, Pope R. A comparison of work health and safety incidents and injuries in part-time and full-time Australian Army personnel. J Athl Train. 2016;51(11):880–6.CrossRef
19.
Department of Defence: Incident Capture. 2011.
20.
Australian Safety and Compensation Council. Type of occurrence classification system. In., 3rd edn. In: Canberra; 2008.
21.
Inc SPSS. Statistical package for the social sciences (version 23) [computer software]: IBM Corporation; 2015.
22.
Altman DG. Practical statistics for medical research: Chapman and Hall; 1990.
23.
Knapik J, Sharp MA, Canham-Chervak M, Hauret K, Patton JF, Jones BH. Risk factors for training-related injuries among men and women in basic combat training. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;33(6):946.CrossRef
24.
Jones B, Knapik J. Physical training and exercise-related injuries. Sports Med. 1999;27(2):111–25.CrossRef
25.
Havenetidis K, Kardaris D, Paxinos T. Profiles of musculoskeletal injuries among Greek Army officer cadets during basic combat training. Mil Med. 2011;176(3):297–303.CrossRef
26.
Psaila M, Ranson C. Risk factors for lower leg, ankle and foot injuries during basic military training in the Maltese armed forces. Phys Ther Sport. 2017;24(C):7–12.CrossRef
27.
Schwartz O, Libenson T, Astman N, Haim L. Attrition due to orthopedic reasons during combat training: rates, types of injuries, and comparison between infantry and noninfantry units. Mil Med. 2014;179(8):897–900.CrossRef
28.
Orr R, Pope R, Stierli M, Hinton B, Functional Movement A. Screen profile of an Australian state police force: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2016;17(296).
29.
Smith H, Jans N. Use them or lose them? Australia’s Defence force reserves. Armed Forces Soc. 2011;37(2):301–20.CrossRef
30.
Robinson M, Siddall A, Bilzon J, Thompson D, Greeves J, Izard R, Stokes K. Low fitness, low body mass and prior injury predict injury risk during military recruit training: a prospective cohort study in the British Army. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2016;2(1).
31.
Gabbett TJ. The training-injury prevention paradox: should athletes be training smarter and harder? Br J Sports Med. 2016;50(5).
32.
Orr R: Program Induced Cumulative Overload (PICO). In.: National Strength and Conditioning Association; 2014.
33.
Orr R: The Royal Military College of Duntroon. Physical Conditioning Optimisation Review - Project Report. In. Canberra: ACT: Department of Defence; 2010.
34.
Schram B, Orr R, Rigby T, Pope R. An analysis of reported dangerous incidents, exposures, and near misses amongst Army soldiers. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(8).
Metadata
Title
Injuries in Australian Army full-time and part-time personnel undertaking basic training
Publication date
01-12-2019
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-018-2390-2

Other articles of this Issue 1/2019

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2019 Go to the issue

Research article

A cross-sectional and 6-year follow-up study of associations between leisure time physical activity and vertebral fracture in adults

Research article

Decision-making, therapy, and outcome in lateral compression fractures of the pelvis – analysis of a single center treatment

Research article

The dysplastic trochlear sulcus due to the insufficient patellar stress in growing rats

Research article

What is the quality of clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of acute lateral ankle ligament sprains in adults? A systematic review

Research article

The correlation between common 2D femoral notch parameters and 3D notch volume: a retrospective MRI study

Research article

Plantar heel pain in middle-aged and older adults: population prevalence, associations with health status and lifestyle factors, and frequency of healthcare use