Musculoskeletal training injury prevention in the U.S. Army: Evolution of the science and the public health approach.
Injuries cause more morbidity among soldiers in the U.S. Army than any other health condition. Over two-thirds of U.S. soldiers' injuries occur gradually from cumulative micro-traumatic damage to the musculoskeletal system as a result of physical training activities. Paradoxically, the very physical training activities required to improve soldier performance also result in injury. Determining the amounts and types of physical training that maximize performance while minimizing injuries requires scientific evidence. This evidence must be incorporated into a framework that ensures scientific gaps are addressed and prevention efforts are evaluated. The five-step public health approach has proven to be an effective construct for Army public health to organize and build an injury prevention program. Steps include: 1) surveillance to define the magnitude of the problem, 2) research and field investigations to identify causes and risk factors, 3) intervention trials and systematic reviews to determine what works to address leading risk factors, 4) program and policy implementation to execute prevention, and 5) program evaluation to assess effectiveness. Dissemination is also needed to ensure availability of scientific lessons learned. Although the steps may not be conducted in order, the capability to perform each step is necessary to sustain a successful program and make progress toward injury control and prevention. As with many U.S. public health successes (e.g., seatbelts, smoking cessation), the full process can take decades. As described in this paper, the U.S. Army uses the public health approach to assure that, as the science evolves, it is translated into effective prevention.