Inflammation and alterations in redox homeostasis precede and persist following musculoskeletal injury in US army trainees

The authors aimed to investigate the relationship between biomarkers of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress with musculoskeletal injuries (MSKI) during Basic Combat Training (BCT) in US Army trainees. They found that elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and the Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) were significantly associated with an increased risk of MSKI, particularly in the week surrounding injury diagnosis. These findings suggest that heightened inflammation and oxidative stress may indicate physiological stress and early responses to tissue injury.