Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Sep 1;57(9):1914-1922.
doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003737. Epub 2025 Apr 23.

Minimal Data Elements for Surveillance and Reporting Of Musculoskeletal injuries in the MILitary (ROMMIL) International Consensus Statement

Garrett S Bullock, Joanne L Fallowfield  1 , Sarah J DE LA Motte  2 , Nigel Arden, Ben Fisher, Adam Dooley  3 , Neil Forrest  4 , John J Fraser  5 , Alysia Gourlay  6 , Ben R Hando, Katherine Harrison, Debra Hayhurst  7 , Joseph M Molloy  8 , Phillip M Newman  9 , Eric Robitaille, Deydre S Teyhen  10 , Jeffrey M Tiede  11 , Emma Williams  12 , Sandra Williams  13 , Damien VAN Tiggelen  14 , Joshua J VAN Wyngaarden, Richard B Westrick  15 , Carolyn A Emery  16 , Gary S Collins  17 , Daniel I Rhon; ROMMIL GROUP
Collaborators, Affiliations

Minimal Data Elements for Surveillance and Reporting Of Musculoskeletal injuries in the MILitary (ROMMIL) International Consensus Statement

Garrett S Bullock et al. Med Sci Sports Exerc. .

Abstract

Introduction: A systematic approach to collecting and reporting injury data in military settings is necessary to maximize the impact of musculoskeletal injury-related research. An international consensus on recommended core data set of elements to capture and report is necessary. The purpose was to summarize the process and results from an international consensus study to establish recommended common minimum data elements for surveillance and Reporting Of Musculoskeletal injuries in the MILitary (ROMMIL).

Methods: A 10-step hybrid consensus process was performed. Knowledge users were embedded in the process for co-creation of pertinent questions, data elements, and voting. Evidence synthesis included a scoping review on the barriers and facilitators to implementing injury prevention programs, followed by a knowledge user survey. A sequential three round Delphi study refined and validated the final elements in the recommendation checklist. Consensus recommendations were presented to an international audience of stakeholders. Participants voted on each statement with 0 representing no importance, 5 somewhat important, and 10 maximum importance.

Results: The consensus recommendation includes one data principle of keeping continuous data continuous and 33 minimum data elements. Data elements include demographics, lifestyle, service branch, musculoskeletal/surgical history, exposure, and injury characteristics. The data principle endorsed by knowledge users recommends that continuous variables (e.g., age, weight, exposure) remain continuous and not categorized into groups. Dissenting viewpoints are detailed to provide fair and balanced consensus recommendations.

Conclusions: The ROMMIL checklist could be leveraged by clinicians, researchers, and knowledge users working in military settings when comparing and harmonizing data across studies, service branches, and countries. The ROMMIL checklist will support improved data synthesis to better inform evidence-based practice in military medicine, and the ability to generate more useful prognostic models to quantify injury risk.

Keywords: CONSENSUS; EPIDEMIOLOGY; INJURY; METHODOLOGY; MILITARY; MUSCULOSKELETAL; ORTHOPEDIC; SPORTS MEDICINE.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Steps taken to reach final consensus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Jones BH, Canham-Chervak M, Canada S, Mitchener TA, Moore S. Medical surveillance of injuries in the US military: descriptive epidemiology and recommendations for improvement. Am J Prevent Med. 2010;38(1):S42–60. - PubMed
    1. Lovalekar M Hauret K Roy T, et al. Musculoskeletal injuries in military personnel—descriptive epidemiology, risk factor identification, and prevention. J Sci Sport. 2021;24(10):963–9. - PubMed
    1. Rudzki SJ. Injuries in Australian Army recruits. Part I: decreased incidence and severity of injury seen with reduced running distance. Mil Med. 1997;162(7):472–6. - PubMed
    1. Heir T, Glomsaker P. Epidemiology of musculoskeletal injuries among Norwegian conscripts undergoing basic military training. Scand J Med Sci Sport. 1996;6(3):186–91. - PubMed
    1. Nindl BC, Beals K, Witchalls J, Friedl KE. Military human performance optimization and injury prevention: strategies for the 21st century warfighter. J Sci Med Sport. 2017;20:S1–2. - PubMed