Active Duty Personnel Injury Prevention

​ THE FACTS:​

• Majority (>2/3) of Soldier injuries are musculoskeletal OVERUSE injuries ($millions annually)
  
• Key fatal and severe injuries in the military are due to motor-vehicles, heat, and cold weather
• Most common cause of acute injuries (fractures, sprains, strains) is accidental falls
• See your installation's data

BENEFITS OF PREVENTING INJURIES:

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

NEW AND HIGHLIGHTED PRODUCTS:

• NEW article: Military public health experts provide tips for leaders to improve medical readiness
  
• NEW: Leader tool to help increase health and fitness and reduce injury in units​
  
• 2022 News articles: 
  
• Army experts track injuries ​to identify risks and support prevention​ 
  
• Army experts mix up workouts to reduce overuse injuries and improve bone joint health​
  
• Does body mass define Soldier's ​​fitness level​? To address the DoD body composition standards​​ to ensure Service Members maintain appropriate body composition, the Army (AR 600-9) includes simple screening by adjusted weight for height, as a body mass index; if failed, the "tape test" is the next step. While scientifically supported, sometimes a failed screening does not mean you are not fit or healthy. Some Service Members develop eating disorders when trying to meet or maintain weight standards. Seek advice from a dietician or nutritionist for a healthy​​​ approach to achieve weight goals. 
• ​The Army Combat Fitness Test: final revision of the 6-event ACFT was posted 23 March 2022 - the plank now replaces the leg tuck, and there are gender- and age-adjusted standards. The ACFT replaces the 40-year old 3-test Army Physical Fitness Test. Going from the APFT to the ACFT has been a big change for some​ - however, basic tactics for preventing injuries associated with the ACFT are the same. 
• Let's reduce drug-related conditions and poisonings among Soldiers​​ 
• Why fitness matters and the history of Army physical fitness testing 
  

​ See References​ for additional injury prevention information resources. 

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