Prevalence of low back pain among soldiers at an army base
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Background Low back pain (LBP) is a major medical and social problem among working populations and is associated with high medical expense, loss of productivity, and disability. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of LBP among soldiers and evaluate the possible causative factors in military training. The results may provide an insight into changes needed in military training that will reduce the occurrence of LBP among soldiers. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a group of young soldiers in China to estimate the prevalence of LBP and evaluate possible causative factors in military training. Results The survey was distributed to 1659 soldiers, of whom 1624 responded. LBP was reported by 425 of the 1624 (26.2%) soldiers. The prevalence of LBP was higher in the armored force (51.3%) than in the artillery (27.5%) or infantry (11.9%). A multivariate logical regression analysis identified night training, 5 km cross-country race, and grenade-throwing training as military training risk factors for LBP. Conclusions The relatively high incidence of LBP among soldiers was related to night training, 5 km racing, and grenade throwing. Modifications in these training methods should enhance the health of recruits and lower the incidence of LBP.Keywords:
Infantry
Military medicine
Background: The U.S. armed forces recently experienced a reduction in forces along with an increase in operational tempo. The Air Force and other branches supporting its mission share this common military burden and also experience a unique stressor. The Air Force has developed a military force that can fight by night and return home by day. The relatively new phenomenon of "commuter war" was especially evident during Operation Allied Force over Kosovo. Methods: Military personnel (N = 540) participating in Operation Allied Force were administered a survey measuring morale, wellness behaviors, and work-family conflict. Results: The deployment had adverse effects on wellness behaviors of permanent party and temporary duty assignment populations. Additionally, levels of morale and motivation varied between the two groups. Permanent party personnel also reported increased rates of work-family conflict. Conclusions: Commuter war affects wellness behaviors, morale, and work-family conflicts of military personnel.
Active duty
Military medicine
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U.S Army soldiers lose substantial training hours as a result of musculoskeletal injuries. Most military injury data have focused on basic trainee populations. This study examines activities associated with injuries in operational infantry soldiers. We conducted a randomized, retrospective medical record review of 339 records from a total of 3,195 light infantry soldiers over 13 months. The annualized incidence of injuries was 95 per 100 soldiers per year vs. 74 per 100 for illness. There were 372 injuries, representing 56% of sick-call diagnoses. Physical training caused 50% of all injuries, and 30% of those were linked to running. Injuries caused nearly 10 times the number of limited duty days as illness. Soldiers with lower extremity running injuries spent seven times more days on profile than those with nonrunning injuries. We conclude that physical training is related to a high number of injuries in infantry soldiers. This study provides important data on activities and injuries in operational infantry soldiers.
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Active duty
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Despite recruitment of U.S. military personnel from areas where leprosy is endemic, and despite assignment of personnel to endemic areas, the prevalence of leprosy among active duty personnel and dependents has never been reported. During the period 1970–1983, leprosy was diagnosed in 89 active duty U.S. military personnel and 54 dependents at U.S. military hospitals and clinics. The incidence of leprosy in the military was low, but greater than that in the general U.S. production. The military medical community must be cognizant of the clinical presentation of leprosy because of continued recruitment from and assignment of personnel to leprosy-endemic areas.
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ABSTRACT Active duty military service members (ADSMs) suffer disproportionately from chronic pain. In the USA, military pain physicians serve an important role in the treatment of pain conditions in addition to the maintenance of the fighting force. Expanding roles for pain physicians, including novel therapies, consulting roles for opioid policy, and usefulness in a deployed setting create enormous value for military pain physicians. Ongoing force structure changes, including proposed reduction in the U.S. Military’s healthcare workforce may significantly impact pain care and the health of the fighting forces. Military pain physicians support a variety of different roles in the military healthcare system. Ultimately, maintaining a robust faculty of pain physicians allows for both preservation of the fighting forces and a ready medical force.
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This study examines biopsychological responses and background practices of 182 military personnel participating in a simulated chemical defense warfare scenario. The study explores the relationship between demographic, training, biopsychological response, and termination variables. Common features of dropouts are described.
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United States military medical planning must reevaluate the practices of combat casualty resuscitation, transportation, and triage to secondary echelon care. Analysis of the experiences of other medical commands, such as that of the Israeli Defense Force, offers insight into improvements in equipment and training that are achievable with minimal cost. Training programs must involve formal instruction in Advanced Trauma Life Support for the combat corpsman, and ongoing experience in trauma surgery for personnel who are placed in the role of military surgeons. Today in military medicine there exists a major deficiency of expertise in trauma care, arising through a near total lack of involvement in active trauma surgery on the part of military medical training facilities. Civilian trauma centers offer an abundance of opportunity for military-like casualty management, and successful efforts at our command have integrated active duty personnel into this experience.
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Chronic pain related to musculoskeletal conditions is the leading cause of medical discharge from active duty military service. The present study is the first randomized controlled trial of an interdisciplinary pain treatment program (functional restoration, FR) to decrease chronic musculoskeletal pain and increase functioning in an active duty military population. Sixty-six military participants were randomly assigned to either an FR treatment group or a standard anesthesia pain clinic treatment comparison group. A repeated measures design was employed and data were analyzed for pre- to post-treatment differences, as well as for 6-months and 1-year post-treatment outcomes. Findings revealed significantly greater improvements for the FR group on self-reported pain, disability, functional status, and fitness for military duty at the post-treatment and follow-up points, relative to the comparison group. These results clearly demonstrate the efficacy and military relevance of a FR program for active duty military personnel who have chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders.
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Military medicine
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Military medicine
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The U.S. armed forces recently experienced a reduction in forces along with an increase in operational tempo. The Air Force and other branches supporting its mission share this common military burden and also experience a unique stressor. The Air Force has developed a military force that can fight by night and return home by day. The relatively new phenomenon of "commuter war" was especially evident during Operation Allied Force over Kosovo.Military personnel (N = 540) participating in Operation Allied Force were administered a survey measuring morale, wellness behaviors, and work-family conflict.The deployment had adverse effects on wellness behaviors of permanent party and temporary duty assignment populations. Additionally, levels of morale and motivation varied between the two groups. Permanent party personnel also reported increased rates of work-family conflict.Commuter war affects wellness behaviors, morale, and work-family conflicts of military personnel.
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Military deployment
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To develop Army psychiatry residents' skills in community and combat psychiatry, the 7th Infantry Division (Light) and Letterman Army Medical Center have begun a unique training program that is built on collaboration between academic medical departments and combat infantry battalions. This article outlines the program's development, its operation, and gives a qualitative assessment of its first year.
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