Soldier Care: Soldiers with Musculoskeletal Injuries
Bonnie Mowinski Jennings, DNSc, RN, FAAN, U.S. Army, Crystal City, VA, USA
Objective: To better understand soldiers with musculoskeletal injuries. Methods: A prospective survey was mailed to 696 soldiers on limited duty due to musculoskeletal injuries at one Army installation; 145 useable surveys were returned (21%). Results: Injuries most commonly involved the back and knees. At least 47% of the injuries were work related; they interfered with soldiers’ abilities to perform military tasks such as road marching (80%). Severe pain was reported to at least some extent for each of 17 possible anatomic locations. Cumulative limited duty days were slightly over 26 years. Written comments reflected soldiers’ feelings about being injured as well as their perceptions of the health care system, providers, and unit leadership. Conclusions: Health care personnel are challenged to better manage soldiers with musculoskeletal injuries and expedite their return to full duty. Unit leaders are challenged to create work environments that focus on injury prevention and allow injured soldiers time to heal.