Did you know injuries are the main reason why active duty service members seek medical care? Active duty service members seek medical care for injuries almost 5 million times a year. This lowers force readiness due to lost duty days and lost training days. This costs billions annually.

Acute trauma causes some of these injuries. Acute trauma injuries are things like:

• Broken bones.
• Strains.
• Strains due to:
  • Falls.
  • Car accidents.
  • Sudden overreaching.

But musculoskeletal overuse causes over two thirds of injuries. MSK overuse happens during:

• Too much running.
• Too many training activities.

Other injuries happen during:

• Hot weather.
• Cold weather.

Many injuries are avoidable or the severity and recovery time reduced. Preventing injuries enhances total force fitness by reducing time loss and medical. It also improves overall individual and unit performance.