🎯 Título: Un sistema de autoreporte para medir lesiones en reclutas militares
📌 En breve: Implementar un cuestionario semanal de autoreporte de lesiones fue factible en más de 1500 reclutas noruegos y detectó muchas más lesiones que los registros médicos tradicionales.
🔬 Puntos clave:
### El estudio
1521 reclutas del Ejército, la Marina y la Fuerza Aérea de Noruega completaron un cuestionario semanal validado (OSTRC-H2) durante 6 semanas de instrucción básica, reportando toda lesión sin importar si buscaron atención médica. La tasa de respuesta promedio fue del 54%.
### Lo que encontraron
Se reportaron 796 lesiones, equivalente a una incidencia anualizada de 5,1 lesiones por recluta (4,1 por sobreuso y 1,0 agudas). La prevalencia semanal promedio fue del 17%, con un 9% de lesiones que restringían de forma moderada o severa la actividad militar. El 71% de las lesiones afectó miembros inferiores, con una pérdida promedio de 1,2 días por lesión.
### Por qué importa
Los sistemas de vigilancia basados solo en registros médicos subestiman la carga real de lesiones, porque muchas nunca llegan a consulta; el autoreporte captura un panorama más completo.
🎯 Aplicación clínica para LATAM: Fuerzas armadas y programas de entrenamiento físico intensivo en la región podrían adoptar sistemas de autoreporte semanal similares para dimensionar mejor la carga real de lesiones y dirigir la prevención.
⚠ Limitaciones: La tasa de respuesta fue moderada (54%) y variable entre semanas y pelotones, lo que puede subestimar o sesgar las cifras reales de incidencia.
Introduction
Musculoskeletal injuries are a major concern in military populations, particularly during basic training, when up to one in four soldiers require medical attention. Traditional surveillance systems based on medical records underestimate the true burden as many injuries go unreported. Self-reporting tools, such as the validated Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Questionnaire on Health Problems (OSTRC-H2), provide a more comprehensive overview by capturing injuries of all severities. This study evaluated the feasibility of implementing a large-scale self-reporting injury surveillance system using the OSTRC-H2 across basic training schools in different branches and locations of the Norwegian Armed Forces.
Method
A total of 1521 conscripts from the Norwegian Army, the Royal Norwegian Navy and the Royal Norwegian Air Force completed weekly questionnaires over 6 weeks during military training in basic training schools, using a modified version of the OSTRC-H2. Participants reported all injuries, regardless of medical attention, along with information on injury type, anatomical location and severity. Weekly prevalence and incidence rates were calculated.
Results
The mean weekly response rate was 54%, with variation across weeks and platoons. 796 injuries were reported, corresponding to an annualised incidence of 5.1 injuries per recruit, including 4.1 overuse and 1.0 acute injuries per recruit per year. The average weekly injury prevalence was 17%, including 9% with substantial injuries, moderately or severely restricting military activity and/or performance. Most injuries involved the lower limbs (71%), and the average time loss per injury was 1.2 days.
Conclusion
Implementation of a self-report injury surveillance system using the OSTRC-H2 across basic training schools in multiple branches and locations of the Norwegian Armed Forces proved feasible, with consistent participation and the ability to capture detailed injury patterns across units. This approach provides a robust foundation for monitoring and comparing injury burden and supports targeted prevention efforts within military training environments.
Cómo citar:
Clauss M, Seljevoll J, Bjørneboe J, Midtgaard K, Ringdal A, Valnes TA, Vejrup K. (2026).
Scaling up a new method to record injuries during military training: a prospective study among 1521 young Norwegian conscripts.. BMJ military health.
DOI: 10.1136/military-2026-003321 ↗ PMID: 42476722 ↗ Acceso al paper: Ver completo ↗
