Incidence rate of musculoskeletal injuries in brazilian army

Abstract

The incidence of musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) is a constant concern in all Armed Forces. Among risk factors for MSIs, physical training and sports can be considered the most frequent cause in military. In this sense, the aim of this study was to investigate the incidence rate of musculoskeletal injuries, identifying the anatomical distribution and its association with risk factors such as: body composition, age and physical training over the past 12 months. Three hundred fifty-one male cadets from the first year of the Brazilian Army officers training course and four hundred and fifty six students from the logistics sergeants training course (three hundred seventy-five male and eighty one female) volunteered to fill in a self-reported questionnaire which was developed based on a literature review and the clinical experience of the investigators. It contained questions concerning anatomical site of the MSIs, hours of physical activities per week, type of activities at the moment of injury and days of absences in physical activities. Among 807 subjects studied, 180 military have reported 220 MSIs. From this total, 143 have presented a single injury, 34 have suffered two injuries and three subjects have had three injuries each one during the last 12 months. Knee was the anatomical site with the higher incidence (7.06%) of MSIs over a 12-month period. Running was the activity with the higher incidence (11.77%) of injuries over a 12-month, accounting for 43.18% of all MSIs. When considered all activities of physical training, the MSIs incidence rate over a 12-month was 17.97%, which represents 71.36% of all MSIs. In young militaries, the largest amount musculoskeletal injuries occurred in the lower extremities and during military physical training, with running being the main activity in which the injuries occurred. Population, gender and body composition was not significantly associated with these types of injuries, while older age was associated in this study. The gradual and systematic progression of distance and speed during running training should be emphasized to prevent MSIs.