OCCURRENCE OF MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN ARMY RECRUITS DURING MILITARY TRAINING

BACKGROUND AND AIM Musculoskeletal injuries are common in recruits during basic military training that cause a substantial loss of man power, working days, medical costs for treatment and increase the risk of attrition. The aim of this study was to examine the rate of injurers and associated risk factors among Pakistan Army recruits during military training. METHODOLOGY A cross sectional study was conducted on 370 Army recruits. Non-probability convenience sampling method was used to enroll male military recruits with age of 18 years or more undergoing training in air defense center. A self-administered tool was used as study questionnaire, adapted from previously reported literature. Data collection on the questionnaire included age, weight/height, smoking status, prior physical activity, prior injuries and occurrence of injury during training. RESULTS The rate occurrence of injury or fracture per recruit during the training was found to be 90/370 (24.3%). Univariate analysis between incidence of injury and the demographic variables included in the study shows that occurrence of injury/fracture was significantly associated with age, BMI, smoking status, history of prior injury and recovery from prior injury. CONCLUSION Rehabilitation efforts on the basis of increased knowledge related to the risk factors and also the injury mechanism should be made to prevent further from injuries.