Injury and Illness Incidence in Sergeants Major Academy Students Class 46

Abstract : Thls study examined the incidence of and risk factors for training injuries and illnesses for 149 male and female U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (SGMA) Class 46 students. This was a retrospective report based on data collected during the 9.5-month training program. The three most common overuse injuries were pain, muscle strain, and tendinitis/bursitis. Major conclusions drawn from this study include the following: 1) musculoskeletal injuries were the major cause of limited duty days during physical fitness training, 2) overuse lower extremity and lower back injuries were the most commonly reported injuries, 3) respiratory bacterial and viral infectious illnesses were the most commonly reported illnesses, 4) alcohol consumption was a risk factor for the development of infectious illnesses, 5) smoking was associated with slower 2-mile run times when compared with nonsmokers, and 6 smokers had higher cholesterol levels.