title: A team approach to the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries suffered by Navy recruits: a method to decrease attrition and improve quality of care.
abstract: In 1991, musculoskeletal injuries prevented 488 recruits from completing basic training at the Naval Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. These losses cost the Navy an estimated $5 million. To respond to the large number of injured recruits, a multi-disciplinary team was developed in 1992. Along with this team, a three-tiered, systematic approach to injuries was implemented. These changes were associated with an increase in the recovery rate for injured recruits requiring physical therapy, a decrease in the amount of training time lost per injury, and fewer total lost training days due to musculoskeletal problems. In addition, this new system was associated with a decrease in the overall attrition rate for musculoskeletal injuries and a cost savings to the Navy of several million dollars per year.
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Clinic, Naval Hospital Great Lakes, IL 60088, USA.
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Bradway
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States