A multi-year injury epidemiology analysis of an elite national junior tennis program

Danielle T Gescheit,Stuart J Cormack,Rob Duffield,Stephanie Kovalchik,Tim O Wood,Melanie Omizzolo,Machar Reid

doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2018.06.006

Abstract

ObjectivesTo profile multi-year injury incidence and severity trends in elite junior tennis players from a national program. DesignProspective cohort. MethodsInjury data was collated by sex, age and region for all nationally-supported Australian junior players (58m, 43f 13–18y) between 2012–2016. Injury was defined as a physical complaint from training/matchplay interrupting training/matchplay determined by presiding physiotherapists and doctors. Severity represented the days of interrupted training/matchplay per injury. Injury incidence was reported per 1000 exposure hours. Incidence rate change and rate ratios (RR) ±95% confidence intervals were used to assess changes over time. ResultsNo difference in male and female injury incidence existed (2.7±0.0 v 2.8±0.0) yet male injuries were more severe (3.6±0.6 v 1.1±0.9 days). The lumbar spine was the most commonly and severely injured region in both sexes (4.3±0.2, 9.9±1.4d). Shoulder injuries were the second most common in both sexes (3.1±0.2) and with the second highest severity in males (7.3±1.4d). Knee injuries were also common in males (2.3±0.2) yet potentially reduced over time (0.4±0.6 RR) as pelvis/buttock injuries increased (3.4±14.0 RR). Females had high trunk and abdominal injury incidences (2.5±0.3). Independent of sex, the injury incidence increased with age from 2.0±0.1 (13y) to 2.9±0.1 (18y). ConclusionsDespite no sex-based difference in injury incidence, male injuries resulted in more interrupted days of training/matchplay. The lumbar spine and shoulder were the most commonly injured body regions in both sexes. The number of injuries sustained by players also increased as they aged.

Highlights

Limited evidence of the injury epidemiology of junior tennis players exists, and that which does is inconsistent in reporting of injury incidence by anatomical region or sex[1,2,3]
Few studies have reported the injury incidence and trends of elite junior tennis players and of those, the majority are dated in their findings[3,5]
Injury incidence in junior male and female tennis players were comparable when expressed relative to exposure hours. This finding is novel in elite junior tennis, this homogeniety in injury incidence has been reported in collegiate tennis playing populations[16]

Summary

Introduction

Limited evidence of the injury epidemiology of junior tennis players exists, and that which does is inconsistent in reporting of injury incidence by anatomical region or sex[1,2,3]. This is largely due to variation in study design and quality, the age and standard of athletes, injury classification, period of data capture and exposure measure are highly variable[1,2,3]. Few studies have reported the injury incidence and trends of elite junior tennis players and of those, the majority are dated in their findings[3,5]. The sport has observed dramatic changes in equipment and strategy 6,7, which has likely influenced the sport's injury profile[6]

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion