title: Descriptive Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Injuries in the Army 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of musculoskeletal injuries among Soldiers of the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division. A total of 451 subjects (age: 27.6 ± 6.2 years, gender: males 395/451 = 87.6%) volunteered. Musculoskeletal injury data were extracted from subjects' medical charts and injuries that occurred during 1 year were described. Injury frequency, injury anatomic location and sublocation, injury cause, activity when injury occurred, and injury type were described. Injury frequency was 29.5 injuries per 100 subjects per year. Most injures affected the lower extremity (60.2% of injuries) and common anatomic sublocations for injuries were the ankle (17.3%) and knee (15.0%). Frequent causes of injuries were running (13.5%) and direct trauma (9.0%). Physical training was associated with 29.3% of the injuries. A majority of injuries were classified as pain/spasm/ache (29.3%), without further elucidation of pathology. Other frequent injury types were sprain (21.8%) and strain (14.3%). The descriptive epidemiology of musculoskeletal injuries in this population underscores the need to explore the modifiable risk factors of potentially preventable lower extremity injuries associated with physical training and running. There is scope for the development of an optimized and targeted physical training program for injury prevention in this population.
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 3230 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Mita T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lovalekar
authors.affiliation: University of Kentucky, Charles T. Wethington Jr. Building, 900 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40536-0200.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Abt
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 3230 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Timothy C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Sell
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 3230 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 3230 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Keenan
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 3230 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beals
authors.affiliation: University of Kentucky, Charles T. Wethington Jr. Building, 900 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40536-0200.
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lephart
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
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology