Affiliations: Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society,
Division of Physiotherapy, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden | Swedish Armed Forces HR Centre, Stockholm, Sweden | Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Helena Larsson, Swedish Armed Forces
HR Centre, S-107 85 Stockholm, Sweden. Tel.: +46 8514 3900; E-mail: helena.larsson.2@ki.se
Abstract: Objective: The study describes and analyses the influence of a
comprehensive intervention on premature discharges (i.e. the military training
cannot be completed). Participants: 862 male soldiers from three military units were
included. Methods: The intervention included a screening protocol with a
questionnaire and physical tests for musculoskeletal complaints or injuries and
functional limitations and, where needed, treatment, early rehabilitation and
individually-adjusted physical training. The intervention also included
organisation-based training in ergonomics and exercise physiology for officers
plus enhanced teamwork between officers and physiotherapist. Not all the
soldiers underwent the intervention as planned. Results: The discharge rate was lower in all three units after
either of the intervention programmes comparing premature discharge figures
with before-implementation study figures. However, significantly fewer soldiers
were discharged from the group who underwent the intervention as planned 6.1%
compared to the group with the less intensive intervention, 13.1% (p=0.002).
Conclusions: The results indicate that the comprehensive
intervention programme can reduce the number of premature discharges from the
Swedish Armed Forces. The differences between the groups indicate that the
effectiveness was greater when the intervention was fully implemented with
regard to intensity.
Keywords: Musculoskeletal complaints or injury, risk factors, screening
