Overuse and traumatic extremity injuries in schoolchildren surveyed with weekly text messages over 2.5 years

Abstract

The objectives of this prospective cohort study were to report the incidence, prevalence, and duration of traumatic and overuse injuries during a period of 2.5 years and to estimate the odds of injury types. In all, 1259 schoolchildren, aged 6-12, were surveyed each week with an automated mobile phone text message asking questions on the presence of any musculo-skeletal problems and participation in leisure-time sport. Children were examined and injuries classified as overuse or traumatic. The overall injury incidence and prevalence were 1.2% and 4.6% per week, with 2.5 times more overuse than traumatic injuries in lower extremities, and mean injury duration of 5.3 and 4.8 weeks, respectively. A reverse pattern was found for upper extremities, with 3.1 times more traumatic than overuse injuries and mean durations of 3.3 and 5.2 weeks, respectively. Grade level, school type, leisure-time sport, and seasonal variation were associated with the risk of sustaining lower extremity injuries. Only grade level was associated with upper extremity injuries. The magnitude of overuse and traumatic limb injuries emphasizes the need for health professionals, coaches, and parents to pay special attention in relation to the growing and physically active child.