Identifying the physical demands of Army Reserve personnel during deployable medical systems training

The purpose of this investigation was to (1) assess the physical demands of soldiers involved in Deployable Medical Systems (DEPMEDS) activities, and (2) evaluate the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries among reserve military personnel involved in these tasks. The primary study group consisted of 190 soldiers participating in a 2-week annual field training exercise. Information regarding the DEPMEDS construction was obtained by performance of an ergonomic analysis, administration of a physical exertion questionnaire, and collection of injury data reported during daily sick call. The neck, shoulders, and low back were the most frequently reported sites of musculoskeletal injury. Soldiers involved in DEPMEDS construction were 7.6 times more likely to sustain a musculoskeletal injury than soldiers not involved in this aspect of the field training exercise. Current methods of DEPMEDS construction that utilize medical personnel for erecting and dismantling equipment may reduce the unit's mission readiness.