Race and Injury Among Army Basic Trainees

You are here: Homepage > Search

Race and Injury Among Army Basic Trainees

N. Bell / P. Amoroso / D. Hemenway / T. Mangione / B. Jones

Injuries due to exercise and training are cammon, particularly in Army populations. Few studies have examined the relationship between race and such injuries. Eight-hundred and sixty-one male and female Army trainees were followed over their 8 week Basic training course. This program, with its standardized activities and similar risk exposures provides a unique study environment. Demographic, body composition and physical fitness characteristics were measured on all volunteers. Fifty-two percent were white and 39% black. White trainees were significantly fatter and weaker than black trainees. White female trainees were significantly more likely to experience a time-loss injury than black female trainess (52% vs 32%, ER = 1.6, p<.05). White males had slightly higher rates than black male trainees, 19% and 14%, respectively (ER = 1.4, p%.O5). The differences in overall injury rates could not be explained by differences in body composition and physical fitness. For time-loss injuries, white female trainees had 3.7 times greater odds of injury than black female trainees, even after controlling for other factors (p<.05).