Online Program

316605
Descriptive epidemiology of unintentional musculoskeletal injuries among Naval Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen


Wednesday, November 4, 2015 : 12:30 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.

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
Paul Morgan, MS.Ed, CSCS, Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Renee Hendershot, MS, ATC, Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Karen Keenan, PhD, ATC, Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Kim Beals, PhD, RD, CSSD, 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
Background/Purpose: Naval Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCC) Operators specialize in the operation of small craft for rapid mobility in shallow water, while also executing land based tactical strategies when not operating on the water. The aim of this study was to describe unintentional musculoskeletal injuries among a sample of SWCC Operators.

Methods: Self-reported injury data were obtained from 104 SWCC Operators (age = 27.5 ± 5.4 years (mean ± SD)). Musculoskeletal injuries were described and classified according to their frequency, anatomic location, anatomic sub-location, cause, type, activity during injury, and potential for prevention.

Results: The frequency of self-reported musculoskeletal injuries was 31.6 injuries per 100 subjects per year. Common anatomic locations were the lower extremity (20/37, 54.1% of injuries) and upper extremity (11/37, 29.7%). Common anatomic sub-locations were the knee (12/37, 32.4%) and shoulder (8/37, 21.6%). Lifting was the most frequent cause of injuries (8/37, 21.6%), followed by running (6/37, 16.2%). Most injuries occurred during physical training (14/37, 37.8%), followed by recreational activity/ sports (8/37, 21.6%). Common injury types were sprain (7/37, 18.9%) and pain/ spasm/ ache (5/37, 13.5%). Twenty two musculoskeletal injuries (22/37, 59.5% of injuries) were potentially preventable by an injury prevention training program. The frequency of preventable musculoskeletal injuries was 18.8 injuries per 100 subjects per year.

Conclusion: Musculoskeletal injuries cause significant morbidity among SWCC Operators. Many of these injuries are amenable to prevention. There is a need for a customized injury prevention program in this population of SWCC Operators.

Learning Areas:

Epidemiology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Identify the frequency of musculoskeletal injuries reported by Naval Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen. Describe common types of musculoskeletal injuries among Naval Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen.

Keyword(s): Epidemiology, Public Health Research

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.