title: Musculoskeletal disorders in physically active conscripts: a one-year follow-up study in the Finnish Defence Forces.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are an important cause for morbidity in military service. They result in disabilities needing long-term rehabilitation and functional impairment leading to premature discharge from military service. The purpose of the study was to investigate the incidence and nature of MSDs in Finnish conscripts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two successive arrivals of 18-28-yr-old male conscripts (N = 955, median age 19) were followed for six months. MSDs, including overuse and acute injuries, treated at the garrison clinic were identified and analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 12-month study period there were 437 outpatient clinic visits in 955 persons. The occurrence rate was 33% during 6-month service while the event-based incidence was 3.3 per 1000 person-days. Occurrence peaked in summer months. The most common types of MSDs were low back pain (LBP, 20%), lower limb overuse injuries (16%) and sprains or strains (13%). Disorders mostly occurred in combat training in combat gear (40%) and during marching on foot or bicycle (28%). Overuse-related MSDs were more prevalent (66%) than traumatic ones (34%). One-third (34%) of the MSDs were recurrent and 66% were new ones. Disorders of the back and the knee were most frequently recurrent conditions (44% for both). Fractures, knee ligament ruptures, dislocations and muscle strains accounted for the highest number of service days lost. Twenty-four (2.5%) out of 955 conscripts were prematurely discharged due to MSDs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preventive measures during military service should be targeted at decreasing low back pain and lower limb overuse injuries, because these inflict the largest burden of MSDs and tend to have a chronic nature.
authors.affiliation: Tampere Research Centre of Sports Medicine, The UKK Institute, Tampere, Finland. henri.taanila@uta.fi
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taanila
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suni
authors.forename: Harri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pihlajamäki
authors.forename: Ville M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Mattila
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ohrankämmen
authors.forename: Petteri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vuorinen
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parkkari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009043:Motor Activity; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult