Health-related quality of life in active duty military: A secondary data analysis of two randomized controlled trials

Background: Military service members with lower extremity injuries are at risk for compromised health-related quality of life during rehabilitation. Purpose: The purpose of this secondary data analysis was to examine changes in self-perceived physical and mental health in two clinical trials of military service members during rehabilitation for a lower extremity injury. Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of existing data from two cohorts of active duty military service members with lower extremity injuries as they participated in separate randomized controlled trials. Discussion: A similar pattern for both physical and mental health was observed in both groups of participants. Perceptions of physical health improved significantly in both studies, whereas mental health perceptions may or may not have declined. Conclusion: Increased attention to mental health may be important during rehabilitation after major and minor lower extremity injuries. Although perceptions of physical health improve, corresponding changes may not occur in mental health perceptions.