title: The Eagle Tactical Athlete Program Reduces Musculoskeletal Injuries in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
abstract: The Eagle Tactical Athlete Program (ETAP) was scientifically developed for the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) to counter unintentional musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine if ETAP would reduce unintentional MSIs in a group of 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Soldiers.
  
  
  METHODS
  ETAP-trained noncommissioned led physical training. 1,720 Soldiers were enrolled (N = 1,136 experimental group [EXP], N = 584 control group [CON]) with injuries tracked before and after initiation of ETAP. The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes were analyzed and described the anatomic locations, anatomic sub-locations, onset, and injury types. McNemar tests compared the proportions of injured subjects within each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant reduction in the proportion of Soldiers with preventable MSIs in the EXP (pre: 213/1,136 (18.8%), post: 180/1,136 (15.8%), p = 0.041) but not in the CON. In addition, there was a significant reduction in stress fractures in the EXP (pre: 14/1,136 (1.2%), post: 5/1,136 (0.4%), p = 0.022) but no significant differences in the CON.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current analysis demonstrated that ETAP reduces preventable MSIs in garrison. The capability of ETAP to reduce injuries confirms the vital role of a scientifically designed training program on force readiness and health.
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, 3830 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Timothy C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Sell
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, 3830 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Abt
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, 3830 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, 3830 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Jennifer B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Deluzio
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, 3830 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Mita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lovalekar
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, 3698 Chambers Pass Building 3611, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6315.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Wirt
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, 3830 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lephart
mesh_terms: D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries*; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010809:Physical Fitness; D014481:United States; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*