Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to profile injuries occurring within a national police force during initial training to inform injury prevention strategies.
Design: A retrospective cohort study.
Method: Data pertaining to injuries suffered during a 22-month training period at a national police college were received Injury data included location, nature, mechanism and the activity being performed when the injury was suffered.
Results: A total of 564 injuries were recorded over the 22-month period, with the mean age of recruits reporting an injury being 28.83 years 6.9 years. The incidence of injuries ranged from 456.25 to 3079 injuries per 1000 person-years with an overall incidence rate of 1550.15 injuries per 1000 person-years overall. The shoulder was the most commonly injured site (n=113, 20% of injuries), with sprains and strains being the most common nature of injury (n=287, 50.9% of injuries). Muscular stress with physical exercise was the most common mechanism of injury (n=175, 31.0% of injuries) with the activity responsibly for the majority of injuries occurring during an ‘unknown’ (n=256, 25.4% of injuries) followed by police training (n=215 (38.1%).
Conclusion: Injuries appear to be joint related and common to the shoulder with police training being a primary known activity at the time of injury.
Key Practice Points:
• Injury minimization programs (e.g. pre-screening protocols) should target the shoulder prior to police training activities.
• Injuries, especially to the shoulder, that occurred pre-enlistment or during training must be fully rehabilitated prior to trainee return-to-training and commencement as a qualified officer.
Design: A retrospective cohort study.
Method: Data pertaining to injuries suffered during a 22-month training period at a national police college were received Injury data included location, nature, mechanism and the activity being performed when the injury was suffered.
Results: A total of 564 injuries were recorded over the 22-month period, with the mean age of recruits reporting an injury being 28.83 years 6.9 years. The incidence of injuries ranged from 456.25 to 3079 injuries per 1000 person-years with an overall incidence rate of 1550.15 injuries per 1000 person-years overall. The shoulder was the most commonly injured site (n=113, 20% of injuries), with sprains and strains being the most common nature of injury (n=287, 50.9% of injuries). Muscular stress with physical exercise was the most common mechanism of injury (n=175, 31.0% of injuries) with the activity responsibly for the majority of injuries occurring during an ‘unknown’ (n=256, 25.4% of injuries) followed by police training (n=215 (38.1%).
Conclusion: Injuries appear to be joint related and common to the shoulder with police training being a primary known activity at the time of injury.
Key Practice Points:
• Injury minimization programs (e.g. pre-screening protocols) should target the shoulder prior to police training activities.
• Injuries, especially to the shoulder, that occurred pre-enlistment or during training must be fully rehabilitated prior to trainee return-to-training and commencement as a qualified officer.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 257-258 |
| Publication status | Published - 19 Oct 2019 |
| Event | TRANSFORM 2019 Physiotherapy Conference - Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide, Australia Duration: 17 Oct 2019 → 19 Oct 2019 https://transform.physio/ https://transform.physio/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Abstract_Book_Adelaide_2019.pdf (Book of Abstracts) https://transform.physio/#program |
Conference
| Conference | TRANSFORM 2019 Physiotherapy Conference |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | APA |
| Country/Territory | Australia |
| City | Adelaide |
| Period | 17/10/19 → 19/10/19 |
| Internet address |