ArticleEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2012
The occurrence and severity of musculoskeletal disorders in Swedish military personnel during peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan.
Article in European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Effectiveness of an Upper Extremity Neuromuscular Training Program on the Shoulder Function of Military Members With a Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.Military medicine · 2019Trial
- Changes in Spatiotemporal Parameters During Gait of Special Forces Operators with Additional External Load.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Descriptive analysis of diseases, non-battle injuries and climate among deployed Swedish military personnel.BMJ military health · 2025Article
- UN peacekeeper health and risk factors --- a systematic scoping review.Global health research and policy · 2024Article
- Profiling lower extremity injuries sustained in a state police population: a retrospective cohort study.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2021Article
- Remarkable increase of musculoskeletal disorders among soldiers preparing for international missions - comparison between 2002 and 2012.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2019Article
- Implementation interventions for musculoskeletal programs of care in the active military and barriers, facilitators, and outcomes of implementation: a scoping review.Implementation science : IS · 2019Article
- Self-reported musculoskeletal complaints and injuries and exposure of physical workload in Swedish soldiers serving in Afghanistan.PloS one · 2018Article
- Spine buddy® supportive pad impact on single-leg static balance and a jogging gait of individuals wearing a military backpack.Journal of human kinetics · 2014Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundNot much is known about musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in peacekeeping missions and to what extent such conditions are disabling. The objective of this study was to assess the occurrence and severity of MSD in Swedish military personnel on 6 months duty in Afghanistan.
methodsWhen returning from Afghanistan 440 individuals received a questionnaire including questions about pain conditions during their mission abroad. A manikin was used to mark the area(s) in pain and which body area had bothered them the most. A modified version of chronic pain questionnaire was used to assess pain and disability.
resultsThe response rate was 78% (n = 344). Any MSD during the 6 months was reported by 70% (95% CI 65-75). The three most bothersome areas were lumbar spine [17% (95% CI 13-20)], shoulders [17% (95% CI 13-21)] and lower extremities [14% (95% CI 11-18)]. 57% (95% CI 49-65) had grade I pain (low pain/low disability), 36% (95% CI 28-45) had grade II pain (high pain/low disability) and 5% (95% CI 3-10) had grade III pain (any pain/high disability). Of all MSD, more than half were new episodes since arrival and gradual onset was common.
conclusionMusculoskeletal pain was common during peacekeeping mission and gradual onset was dominating. Most often, it did not affect the daily activities. Nevertheless, it may be of important to consider broadening the medical disciplines onsite to provide preventive measures and treatment at an early stage, and thereby reducing the risk of chronicity.
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