Risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries in freshman teenagers at a Brazilian military school

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the injury rates related to physical training occurring at a military school, to investigate the risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries in general and for the most prevalent musculoskeletal injury observed in this population, and to assess the quality of life of injured participants and the improvement in quality of life after treatment. Methods: In this study, 498 military students were investigated during an 11-month period and were subjected at the beginning of the military service to evaluations, including physical fitness tests and anthropometric measurements. The variables included in the model were: running test, push-up test, pull-up test, sit-up test, swimming test, height, weight, and body mass index. The injury data were obtained in the physiotherapy service, and a comparison between the injured and uninjured group was conducted. The quality of life of the injured participants was evaluated using the SF-36 questionnaire, which was applied again thirty days after treatment had begun. Results: Musculoskeletal injuries were exhibited by 28.31% of the students. Of these injuries, 62.41% were overload injuries, and 37.58% were traumatic. Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome was the most prevalent injury. None of the studied variables represented risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries in general. Lower body mass index and lower weight were found to be risk factors for Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome. The quality of life of the injured participants improved substantially after treatment.