Injuries in sport - working days lost

By MAJ Ross Railton
A quick inspection of the graphs and tables contained in the ADF Health Status Report 2000 will immediately show the significant effect injuries in sport and physical training are having on Defence capability.

Collectively, injuries in sport result in more working days lost than physical training and work-related occurrences.

More than 10,000 working days were lost during the financial year 97/98 through admission to hospital, sick days or light duty days because of sporting injuries.

Since then policies and procedures have been initiated to reduce the injury rate to the lowest acceptable by military and civilian standards.

Policies such as DI(G) Pers 14-2 ADF Policy on Sport, Sport Safety Management Plans (SSMP), Defence Injury Prevention Program (DIPP) and Sport and Recreation Victoria sport reviews provide guidance to commanders, sport administrators, coaches and players so that sport can be played in the safest manner possible.

DI(G) Pers 14-2 provides advice to commanders regarding the approval process for participation in ADF-approved sports, guidance for participation in the various levels of sport and injury prevention awareness.

The policy recommends that commanders use the Risk Management Plan (annex A) to minimise the risk of injury in sport.

SSMP are also mentioned as a quick but comprehensive reference to safety guidelines for most sports played in the ADF.
These programs include information regarding:

SSMP are available on the ADF Sports Council web site at http://defweb.cbr.defence.gov.au/adfsc

Other information resources regarding injury prevention, such as the Defence Injury Prevention Program, can be found on the Defence Health Service Branch web site which is located at http://defweb2.cbr.defence.gov.au/dpedhs/projects/default.htm
In particular, the Defence Injury Prevention Program web site includes packages discussing the evolution of the DIPP, injury prevention measures, contact details, databases and Injury Prevention Packages produced by Sports and Recreation Victoria.

These packages are similar to SSMP but more detailed in particular areas such as tackling in AFL, spiking in volleyball or pitching in baseball and contain contemporary literature reviews of the subject.

Both sources are essential for coaches, trainers, officials and players. These packages can be accessed via the DIPP web site. Click on “injury prevention” then “index of solutions” from the dropdown menu.

DIPP is an ADF-sponsored program developed by physiotherapist Dr Rod Pope which includes mechanisms for injury reporting and surveillance, analysis of injury data, preventive measures and monitoring of results of these preventive measures.

The program has received funding but is restricted in its roll-out schedule by the APS employment freeze.

This program and other injury prevention measures applicable to physical training will be discussed in future.

In conclusion, a decrease in the incidence of injuries in sport can be achieved by adopting the measures described.

Greater preservation of ADF capability can be accomplished if commanders, administrators, coaches, trainers, umpires, ground maintenance staff and players make themselves aware of the documents discussed and employ the relevant recommendations and practices there.