Gender Differences in Injury Risk in British Army Recruits

Abstract

Female recruits are reportedly more susceptible to training injuries than males, although no previous studies have examined gender differences in injury risk in the British Army. PURPOSE: To examine gender differences in injury risk during Phase-1 training in British Army recruits. METHODS: Demographic, physical performance and lifestyle factors, and injury data were obtained retrospectively for male (n = 1540) and female (n = 796) recruits during Phase-1 training at four Army Training Regiments. Data were retrieved from between January 2002 and August 2005. The relationship between each factor and the relative risk (RR) of injury was tested for statistical significance using Chi-squared contingency analysis. For continuous factors, risk was compared between data grouped above and below the mean. Forward stepwise binary logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for injury. RESULTS: Female recruits were almost four times more likely to sustain an injury than their male counterparts (RR, 3.5; Obs χ21= 526.5, p < 0.001). Significant independent risk factors for injury in male and female recruits, and gender interactions, are shown in Table 1.Table 1: Relative Risk (RR, 95% confidence levels) of Injury in Male and Female Recruits.CONCLUSIONS: This study has identified modifiable risk factors for injury in both male and female recruits. These findings support the need for the development of effective intervention strategies, some of which need to be gender specific. This approach will assist the British Army in reducing the number of working days lost and attrition from training.