Musculoskeletal Injury Surveillance In Male And Female Firefighters: A Comparative Analysis

Musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) are the most documented injuries for career firefighters (FFs), yet there is limited data specifically addressing MSIs among female FFs. Improved gender-stratified surveillance data can inform targeted MSI reduction strategies. PURPOSE: This study compared MSI claims in male and female FFs by examining affected body regions, injury mechanisms, and setting of incidences. METHODS: Workers’ compensation claims from FY2022-2023 were compiled from two urban fire departments. Deidentified data excluded cardiovascular incidents, exposure, and lacerations. Descriptive statistics for reported MSIs were evaluated based on sex and the body region affected, injury mechanism, and setting of injury incidence were examined. A Fisher’s exact test was used to compare proportional differences of reported MSIs between sexes. RESULTS: The departments included 1,187 male (96%) and 45 female FFs (4%). Among 323 MSIs reported, 25 were from female (56% of 45 female personnel) and 298 from male FFs (25% of 1,187 male personnel). A significant difference in the proportion of reported MSIs between sexes was found (p < 0.001). Sprains/strains (n = 279) were most common (87% in male, 80% in female), with low back most often impacting males (24% in male, 8% in female), and ankle most common among female FF (5% in male, 20% in female). Other common regions included the knee (17 % in male, 8% in female), and shoulder (12% in male, 0% in female). The most common injury mechanisms included lifting (19% in male, 8% in female), falls/slips/trips (12% in male, 20% in female), and pushing/pulling (9% in male, 4% in female). MSIs occurred while on the fireground (67% in male, 56% in female), during job/physical training (24% in male, 28% in female), or at the station (8% in male, 16% in female). CONCLUSIONS: MSIs in FFs are primarily sprains/strains due to lifting in males and falls/slips/trips in females, often on the fireground. A significantly higher percentage of female FFs report MSIs than males, underscoring the need for targeted gender-specific MSI prevention strategies addressing specific actions, environments, and high-risk body regions. Supported by: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Assistant to Firefighters Grant (AFG) 2022-25, University of Kentucky SHIFT project. AI was used for basic editorial review.