Injuries and injury risk factors among members of the United States Army Band.
BACKGROUND
This project documented injuries in the professional musical performers of the US Army Band and used a multivariate approach to determine injury risk factors.


METHODS
Injuries were obtained from a medical surveillance database. Administrative records from the Band provided fitness test scores, physical characteristics, performing unit (Blues, Ceremonial, Chorale, Chorus, Concert, Strings), and functional group (strings, winds, keyboard, vocal, percussion, brass). A questionnaire completed by 95% of the Band (n=205) included queries on practice time, physical activity, tobacco use, and medical care.


RESULTS
One or more injuries were diagnosed in 44 and 53% of Band members in the years 2004 and 2005, respectively. In univariate analysis, higher injury risk was associated with higher body mass index (BMI), less physical activity, prior injury, unit, functional group, and practice duration. In multivariate analysis, less self-rated physical activity, a prior injury, and functional group were independent risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
In the US Army Band, about half the performers had a medical visit for an injury in a 1-year period and injury risk was associated with identifiable factors.
Knapik
Joseph J
JJ
US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, USA. joseph.knapik@apg.amedd.army.mil
Jones
Sarah B
SB
Darakjy
Salima
S
Hauret
Keith G
KG
Nevin
Remington
R
Grier
Tyson
T
Jones
Bruce H
BH
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019992:Databases as Topic; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D009043:Motor Activity; D009146:Music; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*