Prevalence, Anatomical Patterns, Functional Consequences, and Treatment Approaches for Musculoskeletal Injuries Among Military Trainees in Saudi Arabia

Mohammed Mehthel Alqahtani, Abdulrhman Abdulaziz Albrkheel, Mohammed Mesfer Alessa, Mshari A. Alassaf, Mazyad Saud Alotaibi, Abdulaziz Abdullah Albinhamad; Khalid Abdullah Alaql, Ibrahim Aidh Allehiby, Nasser Theeb Almazariqah, Khalid Mohhammed Aburayah, Abdulrahman Nasser Abohaimid, Ibraheem Algarni, MD, CAQSM, RMSK, Mohammed Abdulrahman Alrubaysh

Vol. 23 No. 1s (2026): Volume 23, Number 1s – 2026

Original Article

Prevalence, Anatomical Patterns, Functional Consequences, and Treatment Approaches for Musculoskeletal Injuries Among Military Trainees in Saudi Arabia

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Mohammed Mehthel Alqahtani, Abdulrhman Abdulaziz Albrkheel, Mohammed Mesfer Alessa, Mshari A. Alassaf, Mazyad Saud Alotaibi, Abdulaziz Abdullah Albinhamad,
Khalid Abdullah Alaql, Ibrahim Aidh Allehiby, Nasser Theeb Almazariqah, Khalid Mohhammed Aburayah, Abdulrahman Nasser Abohaimid, Ibraheem Algarni, MD, CAQSM, RMSK, Mohammed Abdulrahman Alrubaysh

Published 2026-01-12

Keywords

Musculoskeletal injuries, military trainees, prevalence, Saudi Arabia, lower back pain, knee injuries, functional impact

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Background: Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) are a major health problem in military training cohorts worldwide but there are limited epidemiological data from Middle Eastern military populations. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence, anatomical distribution, functional effects, and treatment options for MSKIs among military trainees in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross sectional study was done on 351 male military trainees at King Fahad Security College, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain data on 12-month and 7-day prevalence of pain across nine body regions, mechanism of injury, functional impact and treatment modalities. Descriptive statistics and chi-square were conducted.

Results: The 12-month prevalence of MSKI was 57.0% and most affected areas included the lower back (44.7%) and knees (31.6%). The most common mechanism of injury was running (47.0%) and military drills (43.5%). The functional impact was significant, affecting 33.0% of people. Pharmacological management was common (29.1% oral NSAIDs) but physiotherapy was only used to a limited extent (4.6%) and 17.7% reported a persistent pain. The significant associations were with obesity (92.3% prevalence, p<0.001), training frequency (p=0.020), education level (p=0.006), and previous injury history (p=0.048). Conclusion: This is the first comprehensive military MSKI study in Saudi Arabia, which demonstrates a high injury burden, mainly affecting the lower back and knees, and also shows a significant burden on function and unmet needs for rehabilitation provision. Improved access to physiotherapy as well as better injury surveillance and a targeted prevention strategy to address modifiable risk factors are urgently needed to optimise trainee health and operational readiness.

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