A review of injury in military recruits, covering injuries of all regions and injury types, reports: “Injuries are prevalent in military recruits, with up to one-in-four of recruits seeking medical assistance for injury in one training period.” [1] The figures about recruits on this page come from reviews of military recruits and cover injuries of all kinds.
A review of injury in military recruits, covering injuries of all regions and injury types, reports: “Injuries are prevalent in military recruits, with up to one-in-four of recruits seeking medical assistance for injury in one training period.” [1] Its authors add that “the overall certainty for the accuracy of our injury frequency results is low due to our study quality assessment findings”. [1]
The figures about recruits on this page come from reviews of military recruits and cover injuries of all kinds. The statements about meniscus tears, kneecap pain, ankle sprains and bone stress injury come from general patient-information pages (AAOS OrthoInfo and the NHS), not from recruit studies. The countries listed in the review of injury in military recruits do not include Singapore [1].
- Why do training injuries happen?
- What is a meniscus tear?
- What is patellofemoral pain syndrome?
- What is an ankle sprain?
- When should a suspected bone stress injury be checked?
- When is urgent help needed?
- What should I do next?
Why do training injuries happen?
The authors of a review of exercise programmes in military personnel write, in their introduction, that musculoskeletal injuries (injuries to muscles, bones, joints and associated tissues such as tendons and ligaments) are most seen in recruits and military trainees, compared to “versed military personnel”, and that this is likely due to excessive and rapid increases in training loads in military trainees [2].
A paper on running-related injury among U.S. military recruits says: “Low aerobic fitness, prior injury, and weekly running distance are known risk factors.” [3]
About the evidence
The authors of the review of injury in military recruits write that “the overall certainty for the accuracy of our injury frequency results is low due to our study quality assessment findings” [1]. Their figure is for all injury types, not for knee or ankle injuries alone.
What is a meniscus tear?
AAOS OrthoInfo says two wedge-shaped pieces of fibrocartilage act as shock absorbers between the femur and tibia, and that these are the menisci. It adds that when people talk about torn cartilage in the knee, they are usually referring to a torn meniscus [4].
AAOS OrthoInfo says meniscus tears are among the most common knee injuries [4].
AAOS OrthoInfo lists the most common symptoms of a meniscus tear as pain, stiffness and swelling, catching or locking of your knee, the sensation of your knee giving way, and inability to move your knee through its full range of motion [4]. The signs that should not wait are listed under “When is urgent help needed?” below.
More on swelling
AAOS OrthoInfo says: “Most people can still walk on their injured knee, and many athletes are able to keep playing with a tear. Over 2 to 3 days, however, the knee will gradually become stiffer and more swollen.” [4]
What is patellofemoral pain syndrome?
AAOS OrthoInfo says patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a broad term used to describe pain in the front of the knee and around the patella, or kneecap [5].
AAOS OrthoInfo says the most common symptom of PFPS is a dull, aching pain in the front of the knee [5].
It adds that problems with the alignment of the kneecap and overuse from vigorous athletics or training are often significant factors [5].
What is an ankle sprain?
AAOS OrthoInfo says an ankle sprain occurs when the strong ligaments that support the ankle stretch beyond their limits and tear [6].
AAOS OrthoInfo says most sprains heal with “conservative treatments like ice, elevation, over-the-counter medications, and simple rehabilitation exercises” [6]. It adds that you may need to be seen by a medical professional to make sure you do not have a severe sprain or fracture if your ankle remains swollen or painful for several weeks despite those treatments, or if you have trouble putting weight on your ankle [6].
More on ankle sprains
AAOS OrthoInfo says that without proper treatment and rehabilitation, a chronic or untreated severe sprain can weaken your ankle, making it more likely that you will injure it again [6].
The NHS says severe sprains and strains can take months to get back to normal [7].
When should a suspected bone stress injury be checked?
AAOS OrthoInfo says: “If your bone breaks down faster than your body can rebuild it, however, a bone stress injury will occur.” [8]
For a suspected bone stress injury, AAOS OrthoInfo says: “See your doctor or provider as soon as possible if you think that you have a bone stress injury. Ignoring the pain will lead to worse injury, and you may take longer to heal.” [8]
When is urgent help needed?
The list below covers the signs that should not wait for a routine appointment.
What should I do next?
If knee pain is not settling, or you are unsure what is causing it, an assessment is a sensible next step. The assessment brings together the patient’s story, an examination and any tests that help, so that the patient and the surgeon can decide together. It looks at the structure involved, the patient as a whole person and the goal they want to return to. An appointment supports an informed decision. It is not a commitment to surgery.
- Read about the Knee Hub.
- Read about meniscus tear assessment and repair.
- Read about ankle sprains.
- Read about sports injuries.
See also how to prevent injuries during national service.
This page provides general information and cannot diagnose an individual condition. OrthoKinetics does not provide emergency or urgent care through this webpage or its WhatsApp contact.
References
- Murphy MC, Stannard J, Sutton VR, Owen PJ, Park B, Chivers PT, Hart NH. Epidemiology of musculoskeletal injury in military recruits: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 2023;15:144. PMC10612319. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10612319/
- Dijksma I, Arslan IG, van Etten-Jamaludin FS, Elbers RG, Lucas C, Stuiver MM. Exercise Programs to Reduce the Risk of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Military Personnel: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PM R 2020;12(10):1028-1037. PMC7586796. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7586796
- Molloy JM. Factors Influencing Running-Related Musculoskeletal Injury Risk Among U.S. Military Recruits. Mil Med 2016. PubMed 27244060. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27244060/
- AAOS OrthoInfo. Meniscus Tears. https://www.orthoinfo.org/diseases–conditions/meniscus-tears
- AAOS OrthoInfo. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. https://www.orthoinfo.org/diseases–conditions/patellofemoral-pain-syndrome
- AAOS OrthoInfo. Sprained Ankle. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/sprained-ankle/
- NHS. Sprains and strains. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sprains-and-strains/
- AAOS OrthoInfo. Stress Fractures. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/stress-fractures/
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