Musculoskeletal Injuries During the Application Year Among Infantry Lieutenants: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Area of Science:

• Military medicine
• Sports medicine
• Occupational health

Background:

• French infantry lieutenants undergo an intensive Application Division (DA) training year.
• This training combines theoretical, practical, and physically demanding activities.
• Characterizing musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) in this population is crucial for safety and readiness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of MSKIs in French infantry lieutenants during their DA training.
• To analyze the clinical and operational characteristics of these injuries.
• To identify risk factors and high-risk training periods for MSKIs.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective observational study of French infantry lieutenants (2021-2023 cohorts).
• Data extracted from the national electronic medical record system (AXONE).
• Calculated injury incidence per 1,000 training days and analyzed associations with training phase and prior MSKI history.

Main Results:

• 169 MSKIs recorded among 384 lieutenants, with an incidence of 1.14 per 1,000 training days.
• Most injuries occurred during the common training phase (59%), primarily during physical training and overseas exercises.
• Lower limbs were most affected (62%), with most injuries being minor (sprains, contusions) causing temporary incapacity.

Conclusions:

• MSKIs during the DA year are relatively infrequent and typically result in minimal functional impairment.
• The common training phase is identified as a higher-risk period for MSKIs.
• Implementing targeted injury prevention strategies during the common training phase could reduce incidence and training disruption.