DVIDS – News – Inaugural Department of Defense Bone Stress Injury Symposium Addresses Critical Military Health Issue

The Uniformed Services University’s Musculoskeletal Injury Rehabilitation for Operational Readiness (MIRROR) Research Program recently presented the inaugural Department of Defense Bone Stress Injury (BSI) Symposium Defense. The two-day event, held June 8-9 at the University of South Carolina, was held in conjunction with the U.S. Army Training Center/Fort Jackson, SC, Moncrief Army Hospital at Fort Jackson , the US Army Research Institute. of Environmental Medicine in Natick, Massachusetts, the Geneva Foundation and Prisma Health. The symposium attracted a diverse audience of more than 130 participants, in person and virtually, to address the critical issue of stress fractures in military personnel.

Bony stress injuries have long been a persistent challenge within the military. The prevalence of BSI is a major cause for concern, with statistics revealing that 7% of men and 20% of women experience a BSI during their initial military training. These injuries can be particularly debilitating, causing structural fatigue and severe pain, both of which can negatively impact military readiness.

The main objective of the symposium was to lay the foundation for a collaborative BSI working group. Participants engaged in discussions on the urgent need for a dedicated team of experts to tackle the complex and multi-faceted problem of BSI. The main goals of the symposium included establishing a plan to promote good bone health among Soldiers and mitigate the threat of ISB to military readiness, creating a network of partners with expertise in various areas, and ensuring leadership, resources and physical infrastructure needed to support research. and educational efforts.

Symposium participants comprised a wide range of professionals deeply committed to addressing this issue. They included clinical researchers, research scientists, physical therapists and athletic trainers from the Defense Health Agency, military treatment facilities and academic institutions.

The conference featured 15 speakers, including Dr. Brad Isaacson, Head of Research and Operations for the MIRROR Program, who provided an overview of MIRROR’s work. Isaacson highlighted a groundbreaking study titled “Use of Photobiomodulation Therapy for the Treatment of Lower Extremity Stress Fractures in a Military Training Setting.” This innovative study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy as a complementary treatment for tibial and metatarsal stress fractures during military training.

One of the defining features of the event was the emphasis on audience interaction. After each presentation, a 10-minute question and answer session encouraged meaningful discussions. Additionally, a BSI SWOT analysis discussion with subject matter experts took place, as well as a roundtable discussion. Army Brigadier. Gen. Jason Kelly, commanding general of U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Jackson, concluded the symposium with remarks highlighting the importance of ISB research and education.

“This inaugural Department of Defense-wide Bone Stress Injury Symposium served as a valuable platform to address a critically important military health issue that has significant implications for military readiness . It has also greatly fostered meaningful collaboration among experts in the field,” said Dr. Paul Pasquina, chair of the USU Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, which hosts the MIRROR program. “This marks an important step toward improving the prevention and treatment of servicemembers suffering from bone stress injuries.” »