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Incidence of Musculoskeletal Injury in US Army Unit Types: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Teyhen, DS; Goffar, SL; Shaffer, SW; Kiesel, K; Butler, RJ; Tedaldi, A-M; Prye, JC; Rhon, DI; Plisky, PJ
Published in: J Orthop Sports Phys Ther
October 2018

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal injuries during military service are a primary source of disability, resulting in 2.4 million annual health care visits and 25 million limited-duty days. While the injury incidence during basic training is well documented, there is little understanding of injury distribution by organization type in the US Army following initial training. OBJECTIVE: To compare injury incidence, distribution, and impact across various military units. METHODS: In this prospective observational cohort study, comprehensive injury data from subject questionnaires and medical chart reviews were collected over 12 months for 1430 initially healthy Army personnel, representing combat, combat support, combat service support, and ranger units. Health care utilization and time loss due to injury were also collected. RESULTS: Of 1430 soldiers, 481 (33.6%) had time-loss injury, 222 (15.5%) were injured without limited work, 60 (4.2%) reported an injury but did not seek medical care, and 667 (46.6%) were uninjured. Across the whole sample, injuries were responsible for 5.9 ±14.4 medical visits per soldier, 21 902 days of limited work, and $1 337 000 ($1901 ± $6535 per soldier) in medical costs. Considering only those reporting injury, each person averaged 36.3 ± 59.7 limited-work days. The injury incidence was highest in combat service support units (65.6%), with a risk ratio 1.60 times that of the reference group (combat, 41.1%). CONCLUSION: Combat support and combat service support personnel were more likely to have 1 or more injuries compared to rangers and combat personnel. The higher relative risk of injury in support units should be explored further. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2018;48(10):749-757. Epub 22 May 2018. doi:10.2519/jospt.2018.7979.

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Published In

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther

DOI

EISSN

1938-1344

Publication Date

October 2018

Volume

48

Issue

10

Start / End Page

749 / 757

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • United States
  • Prospective Studies
  • Population Surveillance
  • Physical Conditioning, Human
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care
  • Orthopedics
  • Musculoskeletal System
  • Military Personnel
  • Male
 

Citation

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Teyhen, D. S., Goffar, S. L., Shaffer, S. W., Kiesel, K., Butler, R. J., Tedaldi, A.-M., … Plisky, P. J. (2018). Incidence of Musculoskeletal Injury in US Army Unit Types: A Prospective Cohort Study. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, 48(10), 749–757. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2018.7979
Teyhen, Deydre S., Stephen L. Goffar, Scott W. Shaffer, Kyle Kiesel, Robert J. Butler, Ann-Maree Tedaldi, Jennifer C. Prye, Daniel I. Rhon, and Phillip J. Plisky. “Incidence of Musculoskeletal Injury in US Army Unit Types: A Prospective Cohort Study.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 48, no. 10 (October 2018): 749–57. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2018.7979.
Teyhen DS, Goffar SL, Shaffer SW, Kiesel K, Butler RJ, Tedaldi A-M, et al. Incidence of Musculoskeletal Injury in US Army Unit Types: A Prospective Cohort Study. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2018 Oct;48(10):749–57.
Teyhen, Deydre S., et al. “Incidence of Musculoskeletal Injury in US Army Unit Types: A Prospective Cohort Study.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, vol. 48, no. 10, Oct. 2018, pp. 749–57. Pubmed, doi:10.2519/jospt.2018.7979.
Teyhen DS, Goffar SL, Shaffer SW, Kiesel K, Butler RJ, Tedaldi A-M, Prye JC, Rhon DI, Plisky PJ. Incidence of Musculoskeletal Injury in US Army Unit Types: A Prospective Cohort Study. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2018 Oct;48(10):749–757.

Published In

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther

DOI

EISSN

1938-1344

Publication Date

October 2018

Volume

48

Issue

10

Start / End Page

749 / 757

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • United States
  • Prospective Studies
  • Population Surveillance
  • Physical Conditioning, Human
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care
  • Orthopedics
  • Musculoskeletal System
  • Military Personnel
  • Male