A TEAM-APPROACH TO THE TREATMENT OF MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES SUFFEREDBY NAVY RECRUITS - A METHOD TO DECREASE ATTRITION AND IMPROVE QUALITYOF CARE

In 1991, musculoskeletal injuries prevented 488 recruits from completi ng basic training at the Naval Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. These losses cost the Navy an estimated $5 million. To respo nd to the large number of injured recruits, a multi-disciplinary team was developed in 1992. Along with this team, a three-tiered, systemati c approach to injuries was implemented. These changes were associated with an increase in the recovery rate for injured recruits requiring p hysical therapy, a decrease in the amount of training time lost per in jury, and fewer total lost training days due to musculoskeletal proble ms. In addition, this new system was associated with a decrease in the overall attrition rate for musculoskeletal injuries and a cost saving s to the Navy of several million dollars per year.