Army Injury Prevention Factsheets and Training Products - Defense Centers for Public Health

The educational products below represent the DCPH-A's synthesis of scientific evidence regarding the types and causes, risk factors, and recommended ways to reduce injuries. When evidence is inadequate, practice guidelines based on the subject matter expertise may be recommended.

The factsheets are scientific referenceable 'summaries' of topics - key source references are noted in the factsheets, and others are in the technical references section of this injury prevention webpage. Educational briefings and social media articles also represent approved DCPH-A position and recommendations. Since individual studies can suggest different viewpoints, users are encouraged to contact us with any questions.

Factsheets

Training Slides

Explanation of Common Injury Causes in Surveillance (under revision, Dec 2020)
Cold Weather Injuries: Prevention, Identification and Treatment
Heat Illness Risk Management for Unit/Installation Training

Social Media & Journal Articles

Journal article: Pectoralis major injuries - an underestimated problem (Aug 2022)
Army Combat Fitness Test, ACFT, final revision was posted 23 March 2022 - of its six events, the plank now replaces the leg tuck, and it has gender- and age-adjusted standards. Though different from its initial development, basic tactics for preventing injuries associated with the ACFT are the same.
Journal article: Injury risk factors associated with weight training (Feb 2022)
Helmet-wearing and knowing limits before trying Winter Olympic-inspired stunts (Feb 2022)
"Why fitness matters - reviewing history of Army fitness testing" (Jan 2022)
Unit leaders should use e-Profile data to plan, track causes, and prevent injuries to improve readiness article - Soldiers average 2 months of limited duty for each injury, resulting in millions of lost duty days to the Army each year (Oct 2021)
Women's Health (May 2021)
Army leader guide to reducing Soldier injuries (Apr 2021)
"New Army Leader Guide Offers Strategies for Reducing Soldier Injuries" (Apr 2021)
"Don't Let Weights Drop You...Train Smart" (Mar 2020)
"Don't Get Benched by Injury" (Feb 2020)
"The Army Combat Fitness Test: Are You Prepared?" (Aug 2019)
"Be resilient: Reduce your risk of running and sports injuries" (Jul 2018)
"Are You Injury Prone?" (Jan 2018)
"Reducing the Risks" (Aug 2017)
"Fighting Fatigue" (Dec 2016)
"Heat Can Kill You" (Dec 2016)
"The Weight of War: March to Win by Keeping Ahead of Injury" (Aug 2016)
"Training in the Heat: Fact and Fiction" (Mar 2016)
"Make sure your winter fun is not a wipeout" (Jan 2016)
"Mouthguards: protecting your teeth won't make you a wuss" (Dec 2015)
"Beware the blister: a 'minor injury' that can slow you down with serious pain" (Sep 2015)
"Non-battle injuries result in more medical evacuations than combat" (Jan 2015)

For other external educational resources, users may also want to visit the Army Medicine Campaign Plan and Education Series webpage.