Injury Prevention for Active Duty Personnel

Last Updated: December 16, 2024
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​​​​​​​​​​An injuryExternal Link is damage to a body caused by an external energy (e.g., acute o​r repeated mechanical traumas, environmental, biological, chemical, or electrical sources). Injuries that require a medical visit are captured in the Service members' electronic health record (EHR). Military public health experts analyze EHR and report statistics by type of causal energy source (referred to as the "Taxonomy of Injuries​").External Link​ 

Injuries are the leadin​g reason for military medical visits (click image). 

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​KEY FACTS (supported by technical references):
  • DOD Service members require medical treatment for injuries almost 5 million times each year (for around 1.5 million individual injuries). 
  • There are 2 to 4 times more medical visits for injuries as the next most common reason which is behavioral and mental health. 
  • Injuries degrade force readiness through millions of lost duty and training days and $ billions annually. 
  • Majority (>2/3) of military injuries are musculoskeletal (MSK) cumulative mictrotraumatic (overuse) injuries.
  • Most common cause of acut​e injuries (fractures, sprains, strains) is accidental f​alls.
  • Most common cause of overuse injuries is excessive running, though can depend on unit mission/training. 
  • Fatal and severe unintentional military injuries are often due to motor-vehicles, heat, and cold weather.​​
  • Prior heat-, cold-weather, or MSK injuries to a particular body region can predispose a person to a similar injury or long-term injury-related condition.

BENEFITS OF PREVENTING INJURIES:
  • Reduce time loss to physical restrictions for work/training (temporary profile​)External Link 
  • Decrease costs (direct medical, compensation/disability, & lost duty time)
  • Improve overall performance (individual and unit)

NEW AND HIG​HLIGHTED PROD​​UCTS:
  • Army public health dashboardsExternal Link ​provide quarterly injury rates over time as high (red), consistent (amber), and low rates (green) for All-Army, Medical Readiness Commands, and Installations. (Restricted access, CAC required)​ 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:​