141st APHA Annual Meeting

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275543
Frequency of musculoskeletal injuries and their impact on healthcare utilization among Naval Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Mita Lovalekar, MBBS, PhD, MPH , Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
John Abt, PhD, ATC , Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Timothy Sell, PhD, PT , Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Carrie Pockrandt, DHSc, ATC , Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Paul Morgan, MS.Ed , Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Nicholas Heebner, MS, ATC , Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Scott Lephart, PhD , Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Purpose: The aim of this analysis was to assess frequency and common types of musculoskeletal injuries, and describe their impact on healthcare utilization, among a sample of Naval Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC).

Methods: Medical records for a period of one year were reviewed for 145 SWCC subjects (age = 26.7 ± 4.9 years (mean ± SD)). Musculoskeletal injuries were described and classified according to their frequency, anatomic location, injury type and cause, and activity during injury.

Results: The frequency of musculoskeletal injuries was 31.03 per 100 subjects per year. Most musculoskeletal injuries (17/45, 37.8% of injuries) affected the spine. Common injury sub-locations were the lumbo-pelvic spine (9/45, 20.0%), and shoulder and knee (each 8/45, 17.8%). Common injury types were pain/spasm/ache (10/45, 22.2%), strains (8/45, 17.8%) and sprains (7/45, 15.6%). Eleven injuries (11/45, 24.4%) were overuse injuries. Lifting was the cause of 8 injuries (8/45, 17.8%). In case of 22 injuries (22/45, 48.9%), subjects were engaged in physical or tactical training when injuries occurred. Radiological assessment was required for 13 injuries (13/45, 28.9%), rehabilitation for 15 injuries (15/45, 33.3%), and pain medication for 23 injuries (23/45, 51.1%). Eight injuries (8/45, 17.8%) resulted in prescription of rest. Thirty-one musculoskeletal injuries (31/45, 68.9%) were identified as preventable.

Conclusions: The reported rate of musculoskeletal injuries to the spine in SWCC is consistent with their tactical requirements. Future research should consider the fiscal implications of musculoskeletal injuries in SWCC and their chronic impact on tactical and physical readiness.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Identify the frequency and types of musculoskeletal injuries recorded in the medical charts of Naval Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen. Assess the impact of musculoskeletal injuries on healthcare utilization among Naval Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen.

Keywords: Injury, Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a doctoral degree in epidemiology, and research experience in injury surveillance, injury prevention and injury epidemiology. I am working on research projects designed to prevent unintentional musculoskeletal injuries in the military.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.