Abstract
Extract:
Sport has long been integral to military culture, valued for its physical and
psychosocial benefits, including fitness, and teamwork. Within the Australian
Defence Force (ADF), sporting participation is encouraged and sometimes
compulsory. However, sport is also a leading cause of musculoskeletal injuries
across military contexts accounting for a significant number of injuries and
working days lost. While civilian injury-prevention programs (such as FIFA 11+
and Activate) have demonstrated success in reducing injuries, their direct
application to military settings is problematic. Military personnel often face
cumulative physical loads from occupational tasks and may engage in informal,
opportunistic games under conditions of fatigue, limiting the feasibility of
structured prevention strategies. This commentary argues that injury mitigation
in the ADF requires context-specific approaches tailored to the unique demands
of military life. These strategies should be developed and implemented at tactical, operational, and strategic levels, supported by governance frameworks such as the Military Risk Management Framework and ADF Sports Council. Withoutsuch targeted measures, reliance on civilian models risks undermining both injuryprevention and the broader benefits of military sport.
Sport has long been integral to military culture, valued for its physical and
psychosocial benefits, including fitness, and teamwork. Within the Australian
Defence Force (ADF), sporting participation is encouraged and sometimes
compulsory. However, sport is also a leading cause of musculoskeletal injuries
across military contexts accounting for a significant number of injuries and
working days lost. While civilian injury-prevention programs (such as FIFA 11+
and Activate) have demonstrated success in reducing injuries, their direct
application to military settings is problematic. Military personnel often face
cumulative physical loads from occupational tasks and may engage in informal,
opportunistic games under conditions of fatigue, limiting the feasibility of
structured prevention strategies. This commentary argues that injury mitigation
in the ADF requires context-specific approaches tailored to the unique demands
of military life. These strategies should be developed and implemented at tactical, operational, and strategic levels, supported by governance frameworks such as the Military Risk Management Framework and ADF Sports Council. Withoutsuch targeted measures, reliance on civilian models risks undermining both injuryprevention and the broader benefits of military sport.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 29-32 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Sports Law and Governance Journal |
| Volume | 1 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 23 Dec 2025 |
