Neuromuscular training with injury prevention counselling to decrease the risk of acute musculoskeletal injury in young men during military service: a population-based, randomised study

Abstract

BackgroundThe rapidly increasing number of activity-induced musculoskeletal injuries among adolescents and young adults is currently a true public health burden. The objective of this study was to investigate whether a neuromuscular training programme with injury prevention counselling is effective in preventing acute musculoskeletal injuries in young men during military service.MethodsThe trial design was a population-based, randomised study. Two successive cohorts of male conscripts in four companies of one brigade in the Finnish Defence Forces were first followed prospectively for one 6-month term to determine the baseline incidence of injury. After this period, two new successive cohorts in the same four companies were randomised into two groups and followed prospectively for 6 months. Military service is compulsory for about 90% of 19-year-old Finnish men annually, who comprised the cohort in this study. This randomised, controlled trial included 968 conscripts comprising 501 conscripts in the intervention group and 467 conscripts in the control group. A neuromuscular training programme was used to enhance conscripts' motor skills and body control, and an educational injury prevention programme was used to increase knowledge and awareness of acute musculoskeletal injuries. The main outcome measures were acute injuries of the lower and upper limbs.ResultsIn the intervention groups, the risk for acute ankle injury decreased significantly compared to control groups (adjusted hazards ratio (HR) = 0.34, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.15 to 0.78, P = 0.011). This risk decline was observed in conscripts with low as well as moderate to high baseline fitness levels. In the latter group of conscripts, the risk of upper-extremity injuries also decreased significantly (adjusted HR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.99, P = 0.047). In addition, the intervention groups tended to have less time loss due to injuries (adjusted HR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.29 to 1.04).ConclusionsA neuromuscular training and injury prevention counselling programme was effective in preventing acute ankle and upper-extremity injuries in young male army conscripts. A similar programme could be useful for all young individuals by initiating a regular exercise routine.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier number NCT00595816.

Analysis of physical fitness tests and the body composition of the military personnel

“…Th e proper body mass supports good health capacity [11,13]. Th e eff ects of excess body mass are widespread, raise the variety of concerns relevant to the health and performance of the military personnel [1,3,4,5]. Th e diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and heart disease increased with the obesity [6,7,8,9,12].…”

“…The maintenance of body composition and appropriate physical fitness standards by the military personnel is affected by the intrinsic factors such as the individual's genetic factors, development history, social background, and extrinsic factors, environmental changes and institutional, systemic changes. The effects of the excess body mass are widespread, raise the variety of concerns relevant to the health and performance of the military personnel [1,3,4,5]. The diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and heart disease increased with the obesity [6,7,9,12].…”

The rate of the musculoskeletal pathology assessment for military personnel and civil population

“…Musculoskeletal pathologies are linked to extrinsic factors such as inappropriate biomechanical loads, vibration, organizational relationships, psychosocial climate and culture, as well as work-related cognitive, sensory and psychosocial load [8,9]. It is also related to intrinsic factors such as body built, body composition, anthropometric characteristics, and inheritance.…”

Assessment of body composition and the anthropometric parameters of the military personnel during high physical load exercises

“…Th e body mass supports the good health capacity [13,14,15,17]. Th e eff ects of the excess body mass are widespread, raise the variety of concerns relevant to the health and the performance of the military personnel [9,18,20,24]. …”