Employing Machine Learning to Predict Lower Extremity Injury in U.S. Special Forces

Introduction Musculoskeletal injury rates in military personnel remain unacceptably high. Application of machine learning algorithms could be useful in multivariate models to predict injury in this population. The purpose of this study was to investigate if interaction between individual predictors, using a decision tree model, could be used to develop a population-specific algorithm of lower extremity injury (LEI) risk. Methods 140 Air Force Special Forces Operators (27.4±5.0 years, 177.6±5.8 cm, 83.8±8.4 kg) volunteered for this prospective cohort study. Baseline testing included body composition, isokinetic strength, flexibility, aerobic/anaerobic capacity, anaerobic power, and landing biomechanics. To evaluate unilateral landing patterns, subjects jumped off two-feet from a distance (40% of their height) over a hurdle and landing single-legged on a force plate. Medical chart reviews were conducted 365 days post-baseline. Chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID) was used, which compares predictor variables to LEI and assigns a population-specific "cut-point" for the most relevant predictors. Results Twenty-seven percent of Operators (n=38) suffered a LEI. A maximum knee flexion angle difference of 25.1% had the highest association with injury in this population (p=0.006). Operators with >25.1% differences in max knee flexion angle (n=13) suffered LEI at a 69.2% rate. Seven of the 13 Operators with >25.1% difference in max knee flexion angle weighed >81.8 kg, and 100% of those operators suffered LEI (p=0.047; n=7). Only 33% of operators with >25.1% difference in max knee flexion angle that weighed

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