An Attempt to Utilize the Body Composition Analyzer and the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) Test to Determine Injury Risk in Soldiers

Abstract

Introduction Injuries are the most significant health problem of military services. Military medical surveillance data are useful for determining the magnitude and causes of the injury problem, identifying possible prevention targets and monitoring trends among military personnel. Soldiers serving in the Polish Armed Forces took part in the research. The aim of the study was to identify the most common injuries of the musculoskeletal system and to analyze causes of injuries. An additional goal was to examine whether there is a relationship between selected values of body composition indexes, the result of the functional movement screen (FMS) test and occurrence of an injury. Material and Methods The Polish Armed Forces soldiers serving in the land forces, military police, air forces took part in the research. The first stage was to complete the questionnaire regarding injuries in the last 5 years, their reasons, and the circumstances of their occurrence. After completing the survey, subjects were measured and weighed on the body composition analyzer. The next step was to perform a FMS to evaluate the locomotor system. Results In the groups of examined Polish soldiers, the most frequent injuries concerned lower limbs and, above all, a knee joint. The leading causes of injuries were activities resulting from the service as well as playing football and volleyball. Conclusions Parameters from the body composition analyzer such as body mass index, muscle mass distribution on lower limbs as well as evaluation in the FMS test may be helpful for the initial assessment of predisposition to injury.

A cross-sectional study on the correlation of image quality, effective dose, and body composition with thyroid, chest, and abdominal computed tomography scans

“…Body composition analyzers are instruments used to assess the body composition index through directly measuring or using statistical methods. They can measure various health indices of patients, such as weight, basal metabolic rate, bone mass, muscle mass, visceral fat level, etc., and infer the patient’s body age, body fat percentage, and degree of obesity ( 25 - 27 ). Additionally, body composition analyzers can provide precise health indices for the upper, lower, left, and right limbs of patients, effectively indicating various health indicators.…”

Body composition as a marker of performance and health in military personnel

“…Further, only two of the 14 studies assessed associations in personnel beyond the recruitment period (i.e., ≥ 90 days post accession) ( 35 , 36 ). Bertrandt et al (2020) examined lower body muscle symmetry in relation to MSKI in Polish Armed Forces soldiers ( n = 504) and found those with asymmetrical distribution of lower body lean mass were at greater MSKI risk, as assessed by self report injuries and functional movement screen (FMS) ( 28 ). In a group of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technicians ( n = 64), Hernandez and colleagues (2020) found that those with higher %BF, as assessed via DXA, and lower cardiorespiratory fitness (VO 2 max) had lower FMS and Y-Balance Test scores and thus greater injury risk ( 29 ).…”

“…The relationship between body composition, weight cycling, and health is a complex topic as health is often defined using a range of variables. In military personnel, body composition and health has only been examined in six studies (26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31) whereas weight cycling has only been examined in the context of disordered eating (32, 33). Thus, evidence in the military population is limited.…”