Injury prevention directly supports mission readiness. When service members are injured in the workplace, training, recreating or other circumstances, it impacts their ability to complete their mission.
- As many as 50% of service members experience an injury every year. Not all injuries can be avoided, but many common injuries can be prevented.
- An Army study found that noncombat musculoskeletal injuries (MSKI) account for nearly 60% of soldiers' limited duty days, and contribute to 65% of soldiers who cannot deploy for medical reasons.
Occupational Injuries
Occupational injuries are injuries experienced at work because of work you do. Service members work in a variety of very challenging conditions with many potential injury risks. Managing these risks is critical to maintaining mission readiness and avoiding missed duty time. Service members work in a variety of very challenging conditions with many potential injury risks. Wearing proper protective equipment, like helmets, ear covers and safety glasses is key to preventing workplace injuries. Repetitive stress and hand injuries are also common among service members.
Tips to prevent workplace injuries:
- A short 30-60 second break in work to stretch and change postures can improve musculoskeletal health.
- When lifting and carrying items, avoid twisting and keep the item close to your body.
- The weight of a backpack should not exceed 15% of the user's weight to reduce risk of back injury.
- When lifting, break down larger items into smaller, light loads.
- Engineering controls are the best way to minimize and eliminate exposure to work related musculoskeletal disorder risk factors. Consider use of dollies, carts, lifts, power tools, and other task appropriate equipment.
- Store materials in the "strike zone" (mid-thigh to shoulder height).
- Ask for help with activities that could stress your capabilities.
Training and Recreational Injuries
Training and recreational activities help service members optimize their fitness and performative but are also common source of injuries. Training and recreational activities are particularly concerning, as they often lead to lost duty days. Proper preventive steps minimize the risk of injuries during these activities.
Some number of training and recreational injuries are unavoidable, but here are some tips to minimize those injuries:
- Dynamic warm-ups and stretches most effective at preparing your body for exercise. "Cold" or "static" stretching can actually increase injury risk.
- Any time you start a new workout or exercise routine, gradually increase the intensity and duration to acclimate your body to the activity.
- Listen to your body. If you feel something is wrong, especially if it feels like bone or joint pain (as opposed to muscle soreness), talk to your trainer, physically therapist or medical provider.
- Watch for symptoms of overtraining, like fatigue or muscle soreness beyond the next-day soreness, and adjust your training accordingly.
Injury Recovery
When service members suffer an injury, proper recovery is needed to return to duty. Working with a health provider, following a plan, and avoiding reinjury are critical. A good recovery program, executed properly, accelerates recovery and gets service members back to full duty status. The sooner an injury recovery program begins, the more likely and successful the recovery.
The greatest risk factor for a musculoskeletal injury is a previous musculoskeletal injury. Completing recovery before retuning to previous levels physical activity is critical to preventing future injuries. Not only that, but small injuries can pile up over time - it is better to seek medical advice before small injuries turn into something more serious.
If you are injured, it may be necessary to rearrange your home, workspace, habits, or recreation to eliminate activities that could reinjure your, especially if your injury is related to heavy lifting. Some injuries require physical therapy to recovery, while other may require surgery. Discuss options with your primary care provider.
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Article
10/13/2021
Physical training, recreational activities, and sports are key to service members’ health but musculoskeletal injuries due to sudden incidents and repeated stress or overuse are the biggest health problem in the U.S. military.
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Total Force Fitness | Physical Fitness | Injury Prevention
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