MUSCULOSKELETAL-RELATED DISABILITY IN US ARMY PERSONNEL - PREVALENCE,GENDER, AND MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Research on military populations indicates that musculoskeletal relate d disorders represent a prevalent source of outpatient visits, lost wo rk time, hospitalization, and disability. Despite the increasing role of women in the military, little is known regarding the association am ong military occupations, gender, and disability. The study presented here analyzed 41,750 disability cases to determine: (1) prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disability (2) specific jobs associated w ith greater risk of musculoskeletal disability, and (3) association am ong gender, job-type, and disability. Results indicate: (1) back-relat ed disorders represent the most prevalent sources of disability, (2) c ertain occupations were associated with higher disability risk, (3) wo men experienced higher overall, and musculoskelatal, disability risk, and (4) specific jobs were identified in which women experienced highe r rates of musculoskeletal disability. These findings highlight the ne ed to consider the interaction between workplace factors and gender on disability in the military work force.