High Injury Rates Among Female Army Trainees: A Function of Gender?
Abstract
Injuries are common among those who engage in vigorous physical activity, particularly among military Basic Trainees. This is a unique population for the study of injuries as many potential confounders are controlled by the highly standardized environment. Previous studies of injury have identified body composition, physical fitness and gender as risk factors. Studies also indicate that women enter the Army less physically fit than their male counterparts. Hence, it is not clear whether the higher incidence of injuries among female trainees is due to their lower fitness or to gender per Se. Eight-hundred and sixty-one trainees were followed during their 8 week basic training course. Demographic characteristics, body composition and physical fitness were assessed. Female trainees experienced twice as many injuries as male trainees, 57% versus 27%, respectively (RR = 2.1). When the injury and gender relationship was stratified on aerobic fitness, the gender differential was no longer significant.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA306073
Entities
People
- Bruce H. Jones
- David Hemenway
- Nicole S. Bell
- Paul J. Amoroso
- Thomas W. Mangione
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine