Sprain and strain injuries in the Navy: the possible role of physical fitness in their prevention.

This investigation was undertaken to determine the nature and extent of sprain/strain (S/S) injuries in the Navy and identify occupations that are at high risk of sustaining these injuries. Hospitalization data, including discharge diagnosis and number of days hospitalized, were obtained from inpatient medical records provided by the Naval Medical Data Services Center, Bethesda, MD, and maintained at the Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA. All hospitalizations for enlisted personnel in each occupational rate were counted and total number of hospitalizations for each diagnostic category were determined. During the period July 1965 through December 1976, 5584 Navy male enlisted personnel were hospitalized for S/S injuries sustained while on duty. Approximately 56% of these injuries involved the back, 37.5% involved the leg, and 2.9% represent arm and hand injuries. The total number of days hospitalized, i.e., noneffective days, compiled by Navy personnel during this time period, was 82,451. Back injuries accounted for 54.4% of the total number of non-effective days. Findings suggest a relationship between high occupational physical demands and increased S/S injury incidence.