Influence of an injury reduction program on injury and fitness outcomes among soldiers

Abstract

Objective:This study evaluated the influence of a multiple injury control intervention on injury and physical fitness outcomes among soldiers attending United States Army Ordnance School Advanced Individual Training.Methods:The study design was quasiexperimental involving a historical control group (n = 2559) that was compared to a multiple intervention group (n = 1283). Interventions in the multiple intervention group included modified physical training, injury education, and a unit based injury surveillance system (UBISS). The management responsible for training independently formed an Injury Control Advisory Committee that examined surveillance reports from the UBISS and recommended changes to training. On arrival at school, individual soldiers completed a demographics and lifestyle questionnaire and took an army physical fitness test (APFT: push-ups, sit-ups, and two mile run). Injuries among soldiers were tracked by a clinic based injury surveillance system that was separate from the UBISS. Soldiers completed a final APFT eight weeks after arrival at school.Results:Cox regression (survival analysis) was used to examine differences in time to the first injury while controlling for group differences in demographics, lifestyle characteristics, and physical fitness. The adjusted relative risk of a time loss injury was 1.5 (95% confidence interval 1.2 to 1.8) times higher in the historical control men and 1.8 (95% confidence interval 1.1 to 2.8) times higher in the historical control women compared with the multiple intervention men and women, respectively. After correcting for the lower initial fitness of the multiple intervention group, there were no significant differences between the multiple intervention and historical control groups in terms of improvements in push-ups, sit-ups, or two mile run performance.Conclusions:This multiple intervention program contributed to a reduction in injuries while improvements in physical fitness were similar to a traditional physical training program previously used at the school.

Prediction of Injuries and Injury Types in Army Basic Training, Infantry, Armor, and Cavalry Trainees Using a Common Fitness Screen

“…[21][22][23] Some of these prevention programs are still new, whereas others have shown positive effects on the IET soldier MSI rate. 4,8,24 The Army today is focusing on the lower overall fitness levels of incoming recruits and how these affect MSI rates.…”

A Review of the Literature on Attrition from the Military Services: Risk Factors for Attrition and Strategies to Reduce Attrition

“…Three U.S. Army programs examined the combined effects of reducing running mileage with other interventions during the basic training and advanced training (130,131,135,138). Experimental groups did not stretch prior to exercise, performed a wide variety of exercises (calisthenics, dumbbell drills, movement drills, interval training, long-distance mnning), and had reduced mnning mileage.…”

Physical Readiness Training: A Meta-Analysis

“…In this paper, these studies are labeled BCT1 and BCT2, respectively. The third study was conducted in Advanced Individual Training (AIT; Knapik, Bullock et al, 2004). Additional detail on the physical training programs can be found in technical reports available from the Defense Technical Information Center (Knapik, Hauret, et al, 2001;Knapik, Bullock, et al, 2003;Knapik, Dahakjy et al, 2004).…”