Characteristics of the anthropometric parameters for the military personnel with musculoskeletal pathology

Authors

  • Liana Pļaviņa National Defence Academy of Latvia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12697/poa.2014.23.2.06

Keywords:

anthropometric characteristics of the military personnel, musculoskeletal disorders of the military personnel

Abstract

Musculoskeletal disorders are an important cause of morbidity in the military service. They represent a prevalent source of patient visits, lost work time, hospitalization and disability in the military personnel. The three most important areas that had pain were lumbar spine, shoulders, lower extremities. Most often musculoskeletal pain did not affect the daily activities. Nevertheless, it may be important to provide preventive measures to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders linked to a specific job and treatment at early stage. Chronically musculoskeletal disorders result in the disabilities needing long-term rehabilitation and functional impairment leading to premature discharge from the military service because of musculoskeletal problems. The nature of these problems suggests that it is a combination of ergonomic and individual/ organizational matters. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors associated with the military environment and psychosocial factors may play a role in the development, exacerbation and maintenance of work disability in the military population. We have provided the evaluation of anthropometric characteristics for the military personnel going for retirement with a diagnosis of musculoskeletal pathology. Anthropometric characteristics of the military personnel (n=50) that goes to the reserve were collected during the period of two years (2011/2012). We have evaluated anthropometric characteristics: the height, the body mass anthropometric indices. Body fat ranges for standard adults were calculated according to NIH/WHO BMI Guidelines. The body mass index for the military personnel (61.3% of soldiers and 73.7% of officers) with musculoskeletal pathology surpasses the standard over 30%. It could be the one of intrinsic risk factors – the provocateur for developing spine pathology.

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Published

2014-11-07

Issue

Section

Articles