Aetiology and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders in physically active conscripts: a follow-up study in the Finnish Defence Forces

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of 944 male conscripts by company.

Variable	Anti-Tank company	Signal company	Mortar company	Engineer company	Infantry company	Logistic company	Other companies¹	Missing	P-value²
Number of conscripts	249	234	69	215	100	61	16	0 (0%)	-
Age, median, years	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	0 (0%)	0.839³
Body mass index, median, kg/m²	23.5	22.2	23.5	23.5	22.1	22.8	23.1	75 (8%)	0.025³
Waist circumference, median, cm	87.0	85.0	89.0	86.4	84.0	85.0	85.3	51 (5%)	0.015³
12-minute run test result, median, m	2320	2395	2530	2408	2388	2250	2535	19 (2%)	<0.001³
Muscle fitness index (MFI)⁵, median, points	7	7	9	7	6	6	9	10 (1%)	0.005³
Conscript's physical fitness index (CPFI)⁶,median, points	15.25	15.29	16.75	15.58	15.00	14.50	18.18	21 (2%)	<0.001³
	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
High level of education⁷,%	48%	35%	46%	39%	36%	48%	56%	10 (1%)	0.037⁴
High level of previous physical activity⁸,%	31%	28%	43%	39%	17%	18%	50%	10 (1%)	<0.001⁴
Good self-assessed health⁹,%	56%	54%	66%	53%	41%	41%	75%	10 (1%)	0.005⁴
Chronic impairment or disability,%	17%	11%	16%	17%	12%	17%	13%	15 (2%)	0.523⁴
Clear musculoskeletal symptoms¹⁰,%	27%	32%	21%	28%	37%	31%	19%	11 (1%)	0.283⁴

¹ Conscript was moved to a different brigade.
² P-value for difference between the companies.
³ P-value was examined by using a Kruskall-Wallis test for median difference.
⁴ P-value was examined by using χ² statistics for difference.
⁵ MFI is the sum of individual muscle fitness test results comprising push-up, sit-up, pull-up, standing long jump and back lift tests (Excellent = 13-15 points, Good = 9-12 points, Fair good = 5-8 points, Poor = 0-4 points).
⁶ CPFI = (12 minute running test result (metres) + 100 × MFI)/200, (Excellent [CPFI ≥ 21.00], Good [17.00 ≤ CPFI < 21.00], Fair good [13.00 ≤ CPFI < 17.00], Poor [CPFI < 13.00]).
⁷ Graduated or studies in higher education institution.
⁸ Sweating exercise at least three times per week during the last month before military entry.
⁹ Compared to age-mates.
¹⁰ Symptoms lasting more than seven days in at least one anatomical region during the last month before entering the military.

ISSN: 1471-2474