Risk Factors for Back-Related Disability in the US Army and Marine Corps

Abstract

4.

A Narrative Review: Risk Factors of Low Back Pain in Military Personnel/Recruits

“…Epidemiological studies were reviewed and risk factors were classified as personal, occupational and psychosocial (Refer There are few studies with conflicting evidences; Nelson et al [31] claimed that older age (>36 y/o) are more exposed to LBP, however, Gubata et al [4] stated that age 25-29-year-old were more susceptible to LBP. For education level; Feuerstein et al [16] reported that higher education level have significant association with LBP, nonetheless Taanila et al [19] in contrast discovered that lower education level were more related with LBP.…”

“…Military personnel are one of the occupations at high risk of developing LBP due to its job demands. LBP is a major prevalent cause of morbidity and lost from work among military personnel [4]. In a systematic review, Cohen et al [5] reported that the low back region contributes the highest primary complaints of spinal pain among military personnel compared to upper back, and neck regions with approximately 75% prevalence.…”

“…LBP functional disability was found to be significantly associated with physical training ≤1 day/week (OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.7 to 16.8), body height ≤1.80 m (OR 5.0, 95% CI 1.6 to 15.1) and ≥1.86 m (OR 4.4, 95% CI 1.4 to 14.1), and computer work 1/4 of the working day (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.0 to 10.0) and ≥1/2 (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.1 to 10.1). On the other hand, Knox et al [9] and Gubata et al [4] investigate the risk factors for LBP among United States (US) military personnel. Knox et al [9] discovered that risk factors for LBP among US military personnel includes increasing age (> 40year age group has incidence rate ratio of 1.28 as compared to 20-29 years of age group), division of services (incidence rate ratio comparison to marines as reference; army 2.19, navy: 1.02 and air force 1.54), and marital status (married service members has incidence rate ratio of 1.21).…”

“…Knox et al [9] discovered that risk factors for LBP among US military personnel includes increasing age (> 40year age group has incidence rate ratio of 1.28 as compared to 20-29 years of age group), division of services (incidence rate ratio comparison to marines as reference; army 2.19, navy: 1.02 and air force 1.54), and marital status (married service members has incidence rate ratio of 1.21). Gubata et al [4] According to Govindu and Babski-Reeves [2], previous research has identified three primary risk factor categories for LBP (occupational, personal and psychosocial factors) for the general population. Nevertheless, the risk factors for military population might be different from the general population due to their job scope.…”

The Relationship Between Deployment Frequency and Cumulative Duration, and Discharge for Disability Retirement Among Enlisted Active Duty Soldiers and Marines

“…In similar research, Gubata et al 13 reviewed the trends of disability evaluations and retirements in the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps from 2005 to 2011 and found that, although rates of disability evaluations decreased, severity of disabilities increased, with elevated rates of combat-related disability evaluations and retirements for musculoskeletal disabilities. Many studies have examined combat deployments and subsequent disability and/or retirement, although studies of disability in the U.S. military have frequently examined musculoskeletal disability conditions, 9,10,14,15 research of morbidity following deployment have primarily focused on psychiatric conditions. [16][17][18][19][20] Deployment has been identified as a risk factor for disability in some studies, 14,17,20,21 although in others it has been shown as a protective factor in that individuals with pre-existing health conditions are less likely to be deployed.…”