Air Force Technical School Causes of Musculoskeletal Injury, 2025

Area of Science:

• Military medicine
• Sports medicine
• Trauma and injury prevention

Background:

• Phase II training is crucial for developing specialty skills for operational military units.
• Injuries during Phase II training can delay trainee readiness and deployment.
• Understanding injury timing and location is key to developing mitigation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the timing, location, and causes of musculoskeletal injuries in Phase II trainees.
• To inform interventions aimed at reducing injury rates and training disruptions.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study included 510 Phase II trainees from the 81 Training Wing (TRW) presenting with new musculoskeletal injuries.
• Data collected included injury timing (pre- or post-arrival), activity during injury, cause, and time to medical presentation.
• Injuries were analyzed based on arrival status at the 81 TRW.

Main Results:

• The majority of trainees (67.5%) were injured after arriving at the 81 TRW.
• The median time to injury presentation was longer for injuries sustained after arrival (75 days) compared to before arrival (32 days).
• Running was the primary cause of injury, accounting for 53.8% of cases.

Conclusions:

• Running is the leading cause of musculoskeletal injuries among Phase II trainees.
• Targeted interventions to reduce running-related injuries are essential for mitigating overall injury burden.
• Reducing these injuries can improve training continuity and operational readiness.