Preliminary Concussion and Lower Extremity Injury Risk Among R.O.T.C. Cadets

Objective To examine the association between concussions and lower extremity musculoskeletal injury (LE-MSI) rates in Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets.

Background Concussions have been associated with an increased risk for LE-MSI among high school, collegiate, and professional athletes as well as U.S. Army Soldiers. However, there is a paucity evidence on this relationship among U.S. Army ROTC cadets, future U.S. Army Officers, and a group similar to student-athletes in regards to physical activity levels.

Design/Methods A modified reliable injury questionnaire (ICC = 0.92) was used to identify the total number of reported concussions, intentionally unreported concussions, and potentially unrecognized concussions (e.g., memory loss not diagnosed as a concussion) as well as LE-MSI (e.g., muscle strains, ACL rupture) a cadet had suffered. A chi-square analysis was performed to identify the association between concussion and LE-MSI and any concussive injury and LE-MSI.

Results 47 cadets (19.9 ± 1.3 years) were recruited from one Army ROTC program. There was not a significant association between reported concussions and LE-MSI (Χ(1) = 3.122, p = 0.077). There was not a significant association between any concussive injury (reported, unreported, or potentially unrecognized) and LE-MSI (Χ(1) = 3.590, p = 0.058). The reported concussion history was 38.3% (18/47), any concussive history was 46.8% (22/47), and 68.1% (32/47) reported history of LE-MSI.

Conclusions Preliminary results showed that there was no statistically significant association between concussion and LE-MSI among ROTC cadets at this university. Future research is warranted on a larger cohort of cadets to determine if this relationship exists since cadets will soon commission, potentially risking injury while serving on active duty, causing limited duty days, reduced Department of Defense readiness, and increased healthcare costs. Cadets showed a high incidence of concussion and LE-MSK injury, and future research should target reducing these injuries among ROTC cadets prior to commissioning.