Description of musculoskeletal injuries occurring in female soldiers deployed to Afghanistan.
Each year musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) result in thousands of lost duty days and medical discharges. Women represent 15% of the Army and have higher incidence of injury than male soldiers; studies that have investigated MSIs in deployed women are lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this prospective cohort study was to investigate MSIs in women during a 9-month deployment to Afghanistan. Participants were recruited from three Brigade Combat Teams. Participants completed a demographic survey before deployment and a second survey on occupational demands and MSIs after deployment. Of the 160 women, 57 (36%) suffered 78 MSIs resulting in 1,642 days of limited duty, a median of 7 days per MSI, losing 10% of the available duty time to MSIs. Most injuries affected the knee (24%) or low back (18%). Soldiers attributed the majority of injuries (27%) to physical training and trips/falls (17%). Of the MSIs, 93% caused limitations to physical training and 76% resulted in large limitations to occupational tasks. Most MSIs (41%) resolved within 3 weeks and most (37%) occurred before the fourth month of deployment. Prevention measures should target knee and low back injuries. Physical training should be further investigated to discover modifications capable of reducing injuries.
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 4028 Forbes Tower, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.
Tanja C
TC
Roy
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 4028 Forbes Tower, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.
Sara R
SR
Piva
1st Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, 3780 53rd Street, Fort Campbell, KY 42223.
Bryan C
BC
Christiansen
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Unit 31401 Box 53, APO, AE 09630.
Jonathan D
JD
Lesher
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Unit 31401 Box 53, APO, AE 09630.
Peter M
PM
Doyle
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, 10200 North Riva Ridge Loop, Fort Drum, NY 13602.
Rachel M
RM
Waring
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 4028 Forbes Tower, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.
James J
JJ
Irrgang
Center for Research on Health Care Data Center, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Meyran Avenue, Suite 300, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
Charity G
CG
Moore
Medical Research and Materiel Command, 810 Schreider Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702.
Teresa L
TL
Brininger
U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, 15 Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760.
Marilyn A
MA
Sharp
D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries*; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States; D000067398:War-Related Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology