TY - JOUR
T1 - MSKI reduction strategies
T2 - Evidence-based interventions to reduce musculoskeletal injuries in military service members
AU - Tingelstad, Hans Christian
AU - Robitaille, E.
AU - O'Leary, T. J.
AU - Laroche, M. A.
AU - Larsen, P.
AU - Reilly, T.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKI) are one of the biggest challenges for military services globally, contributing to substantial financial burdens and lost training and working days. Effective evidence-based intervention strategies are essential to reduce MSKI incidence, and research has shown the positive effect of both nutritional interventions and physical training (PT) interventions on reducing MSKI incidence. Levels of vitamin D metabolites have been associated with MSKI and bone stress fracture risk, while calcium and vitamin D supplementation has been shown to reduce the incidence of stress fractures during military training. Protein and carbohydrate supplementation during arduous military training (high volume, high intensity) has also been shown to reduce MSKI risk and the number of limited/missed duty days. PT has played a key role in soldier development to meet the occupational demands of serving in the armed forces. Paradoxically, while PT is fundamental to enhancing soldier readiness, PT can also be a major contributor to MSKI; emerging evidence suggests that the nature of the PT being performed is a risk factor for MSKI. However, strategies like reducing training load and implementing PT programmes using evidence-based training principles can reduce MSKI incidence among military service members by 33-62%, and reduce the financial burdens for military services. This review provides a summary of effective MSKI reduction interventions and provides strategies to enhance the success and adoption of such interventions.
AB - Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKI) are one of the biggest challenges for military services globally, contributing to substantial financial burdens and lost training and working days. Effective evidence-based intervention strategies are essential to reduce MSKI incidence, and research has shown the positive effect of both nutritional interventions and physical training (PT) interventions on reducing MSKI incidence. Levels of vitamin D metabolites have been associated with MSKI and bone stress fracture risk, while calcium and vitamin D supplementation has been shown to reduce the incidence of stress fractures during military training. Protein and carbohydrate supplementation during arduous military training (high volume, high intensity) has also been shown to reduce MSKI risk and the number of limited/missed duty days. PT has played a key role in soldier development to meet the occupational demands of serving in the armed forces. Paradoxically, while PT is fundamental to enhancing soldier readiness, PT can also be a major contributor to MSKI; emerging evidence suggests that the nature of the PT being performed is a risk factor for MSKI. However, strategies like reducing training load and implementing PT programmes using evidence-based training principles can reduce MSKI incidence among military service members by 33-62%, and reduce the financial burdens for military services. This review provides a summary of effective MSKI reduction interventions and provides strategies to enhance the success and adoption of such interventions.
KW - OCCUPATIONAL & INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
KW - PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
KW - REHABILITATION MEDICINE
KW - SPORTS MEDICINE
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U2 - 10.1136/military-2024-002747
DO - 10.1136/military-2024-002747
M3 - Review article
C2 - 39209759
AN - SCOPUS:85204709813
SN - 2633-3767
JO - BMJ Military Health
JF - BMJ Military Health
M1 - military-2024-002747
ER -