Biomarker Targets for Stress Fracture Surveillance and Intervention in Military Personnel: A Scoping Review
Abstract
Introduction: Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) are the most common cause of medical discharge from military service, with most directly attributable to physical training and arduous occupational tasks. MSKIs affect (but not limited to) muscles, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, and/or cartilage. A high proportion of military MSKIs are overuse injuries occurring in the lower limbs. Because of the impact of MSKIs on personnel and the organization, it is imperative that methods of identifying at risk personnel are developed, refined, and implemented. Biomarkers are used within clinical and research settings as indicators or surrogate measures of damage to target tissue. Furthermore, biomarkers can offer an objective insight into MSKIs risk rather relying on self-report methods, which are often reported too late. Numerous risk factors for MSKIs have been identified, several of which represent modifiable health behaviors and therefore may provide targets for intervention. The potential effects of these behaviors on biomarkers may provide a means of identifying those at increased risk or susceptibility to MSKIs, informing early intervention. This review aimed to identify specific and sensitive biomarkers of bone and soft-tissue damage/injury and examines potential associations between biomarker and modifiable health behaviors.
Materials and methods: A scoping review was undertaken to assess published evidence of current biomarkers used to assess tissue damage, and potential…
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