Prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain among active and retired military personnel: a systematic review protocol

Abstract

The objective of this review is to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal chronic pain among active and retired members of military forces and to characterize potential factors that could influence the frequency of musculoskeletal chronic pain. Introduction:Inherent to military occupations is a diverse source of occupational hazards that affect the well-being of individuals at any stage of their military career (active and retired). Chronic pain may result from the continuous exposure to physically demanding tasks and other risks. Moreover, chronic pain has been associated with other comorbidities, including mental health conditions.Inclusion criteria: Scientific papers in French or English reporting on chronic pain derived from a musculoskeletal cause in active and retired military personnel will be considered. There will be no restriction on participants' country, age, or length of service. Methods:The published literature will be identified by exploring biomedical, pharmacological, and physiology bibliographic databases. The unpublished literature will be located through the search of thesis and gray literature repositories. This review will follow the condition-context-population approach and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The extracted data will include any detail about the anatomic location, diagnosis, types of studies, and risk factors. The review will follow JBI methods of critical appraisal, data extraction, and data synthesis for reviews containing prevalence data. If enough evidence is found, meta-regression analysis will performed, otherwise a narrative review will be completed.

Meeting the complex healthcare needs of veterans

“…9 The most common MSK conditions that veterans experience include back pain, joint pain, and osteoarthritis. 10 While the burden of MSK conditions in general society is substantial, veterans have an even greater incidence of MSK conditions. Not only are MSK conditions nearly twice as common in the veteran population, but they also occur at a younger age than in the civilian population.…”

“…Not only are MSK conditions nearly twice as common in the veteran population, but they also occur at a younger age than in the civilian population. 10 Understanding the nature of injuries sustained on active duty is crucial to understanding MSK conditions among veterans.…”

“…Many veterans with chronic pain and disability may also be affected by comorbid mental health conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression or by TBI, which can have a negative effect on chronic pain and disability, further contributing to decreased physical function and risk for chronic disease. 10 ■ Traumatic brain injury TBI is a signifi cant problem among the veteran population, affecting approximately 20% of veterans, which can result from a direct impact to the skull, a blast injury (for example, improvised explosive devices), or an acceleration/deceleration injury. 14 TBIs can occur with either open or closed head injuries and range from mild, or concussion, to severe.…”

“…During training, service members may be wearing heavy loads and body armor while marching, parachuting, or running, putting them at risk for noncombat MSK injury 11. Military occupational hazards, such as heavy machinery work, military vehicle crashes, or falls, can result in MSK injury 10. Nearly 90% of the MSK injuries sustained during deployment are noncombat-related.…”

“…Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are common among the veteran population, with more than half of all veteran visits at VHA medical centers focused on an MSK condition 9. The most common MSK conditions that veterans experience include back pain, joint pain, and osteoarthritis 10. While the burden of MSK conditions in general society is substantial, veterans have an even greater incidence of MSK conditions.…”