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Table 1 Baseline characteristics of 1,912 male conscripts by company and study period

From: Neuromuscular training with injury prevention counselling to decrease the risk of acute musculoskeletal injury in young men during military service: a population-based, randomised study

Variable

Prestudy period

Study period intervention groups

Study period control group

Missing data

Pvaluea

 

Anti-tank company

Engineer company

Signal company

Mortar company

Anti-tank company

Engineer company

Signal company

Mortar company

  

Number of conscripts

263

245

282

154

222

279

258

209

0 (0%)

-

Median age, yr

19

19

19

19

19

19

19

19

0 (0%)

0.054b

Median body mass index, kg/m2

23.4

23.6

22.5

22.7

23.6

23.3

22.8

23.7

175 (9%)

0.011b

Median waist circumference, cm

87.0

87.0

85.0

84.5

85.0

86.0

84.0

86.1

139 (7%)

0.005b

Median 12-minute running test result, m

2,310

2,400

2,340

2,515

2,350

2,420

2,300

2,470

51 (3%)

0.614b

Median muscle fitness indexd, points

7

7

7

8

7

6

6

10

37 (2%)

0.019b

Median conscript physical fitness index (CPFI)e, points

15.05

15.50

15.03

16.75

15.75

15.25

14.60

17.05

58 (3%)

0.153b

Conscript's hometown population ≥10,000, %

59

57

64

54

66

57

68

63

25 (1%)

0.100c

High level of preceding physical activityf, %

31

36

26

32

24

26

21

49

24 (1%)

0.011c

Good self-assessed healthg, %

57

51

54

50

54

53

41

70

23 (1%)

0.942c

Chronic impairment or disability, %

17

17

11

17

11

18

19

16

30 (2%)

0.277c

Past orthopaedic surgery, %

8

9

7

9

9

10

11

7

25 (1%)

0.802c

No musculoskeletal symptomsh, %

28

27

32

28

34

34

31

25

25 (1%)

0.143c

Previous or current regular smoker, %

43

57

47

40

53

58

47

46

27 (1%)

0.003c

Use of alcohol at least three times per week, %

16

20

15

16

24

23

23

14

24 (1%)

0.010c

  1. a P value for difference between the study group and study year; b P value was calculated by using a Kruskal-Wallis test for median difference; c P value was calculated by using χ2 statistics for significant differences; dMuscle fitness index is the sum of individual muscle fitness test results comprising pushups, situps, pullups, the standing long jump and the back-lift test (excellent = 13 to 15 points, good = 9 to 12 points, fair to good = 5 to 8 points, and poor = 0 to 4 points); eCPFI = (12-minute running test result (measured in meters) + 100 × muscle fitness index) ÷ 200; scoring was excellent = CPFI ≥21.00), good = 17.00 ≤ CPFI < 21.00, fair to good = 13.00 ≤ CPFI < 17.00, and poor = CPFI < 13.00; fsweating exercise at least three times per week during the past month before entry into the military; gcompared to age cohort; hsymptoms lasting more than 7 days in at least one anatomical region during the past month before entering the military.