Disease spectrum analysis of military training-related injuries based on task attributes

Wei Song; Zheng Xiaohui; Zhang Kun

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1009-4237.2026.01.003

Abstract：Objective To investigate the association between different military operational task attributes and the spectrum of musculoskeletal diseases.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on medical patrol data from our hospital between Nov.2023 and Mar.2025,involving 951 individuals with 1008 documented cases.Based on core task attributes,cases were categorized into a duty group(n=604,primarily static tasks such as sentry duty)or a training group(n=404,primarily dynamic training such as tactical exercises).Diseases were classified according to standard criteria.Chi-square test was used to analyze differences in the disease spectrum,injury mecha-nisms,and affected anatomical sites between the two groups.Results Lumbar muscle strain was the most common injury in both groups,with a significantly higher incidence in the duty group(19.04%vs.12.87%,P=0.010).The proportion of acute injuries was much higher in the training group compared to the duty group(P=0.036).Analysis of lower limb injuries revealed significant differences between the groups:knee injuries were more common in the training group(37.83%vs.29.13%,P<0.05),while foot injuries were more common in the duty group(20.47%vs.10.87%,P<0.05).Conclusion Military task attributes are a critical factor influencing the differentiation of the musculoskeletal disease spectrum.Long-term static duties predispose personnel to chronic lower back and foot inju-ries,whereas high-intensity dynamic training increases the risk of lower limb injuries,particularly to the knees.