Difference In Incidence Of Injury Research Articles

High Incidence of Injuries Among Adolescent Elite Skiers-A 5-Year Cohort Study.

Competitive skiing has gained increasing popularity among adolescent, yet it comes with injury risks. The aim was to determine injury incidence, type and time of injury, localization, and diagnosis, among adolescent competitive skiers (alpine, cross-country, ski-cross, mogul), and to compare between skiing discipline, sex, and high school year. All students (n = 190) enrolled in a ski high school from August 2013 to June 2018 were included. All injuries during the study period were prospectively registered by the physiotherapist at the high school. Demographic and injury data were registered. Absolute injury incidence (injuries/100 skiers) was calculated. In total, 166 (87%) skiers reported 502 injuries, which corresponds to an absolute injury incidence of 264.2 injuries/100 skiers during the 5-year follow-up. A higher injury incidence was shown in school year 1 compared with year 2-4 (131.3 vs. 79.5-98.4; p < 0.05). No differences in injury incidence were found between sex or skiing discipline. Females were more prone of having a gradual-onset injury compared with males (179.3 vs. 96.3; p < 0.001). Mogul skiers had higher incidence of acute injuries compared with the other disciplines (220.0 vs. 71.4-160.0; p < 0.001). The knee was the most common localization across all skiing disciplines, except for cross-country (lower leg). Low back pain was the predominant diagnosis, except in ski-cross (concussion). Skiers attending specialized ski high schools exhibited a significantly high injury incidence, with first-year students being the most susceptible to injuries, across all skiing disciplines and both sexes. While the knee was the most common injury location, concussion was remarkably frequent, particularly among ski-cross skiers.

Injuries in Male and Female Wrestlers.

» With historical exclusion from the sport and lack of research on the subject, there is a paucity of data regarding the injury incidence, treatment, and recovery of female wrestlers as compared with their male counterparts.» Data demonstrate that female wrestlers are more likely to experience sprains/strains, whereas male wrestlers experience more concussions and fractures.» Variations in behavior and physiology including risk-taking habits and ligament laxity may contribute to differences in injury incidence between male and female wrestlers.» Rapid weight loss and eating disorders are important areas of future investigation for male and female wrestlers alike.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on injury risk in Qatar's professional football

ObjectivesTo compare injury incidence, burden and characteristics between the pre- and post-COVID-19 lockdown periods in Qatari professional football. DesignProspective cohort study. MethodsInjury and exposure data for two post-COVID-19 lockdown periods [early post-lockdown period: short-term ~2 months (54 matches) and late post-lockdown period: long-term 8-months (183 matches)] were compared to the benchmark of the same periods from the three previous seasons (2017/18–2019/20). ResultsWe observed no difference in overall, training or match incidence between early post-lockdown period and the benchmark reference. However, this short-term period resulted in lower burden for overall- (RR 0.80, P < 0.0001), training- (RR 0.73, P < 0.0001) and match-injuries (RR 0.40, P < 0.0001) compared to the benchmark. During late post-lockdown period match injury incidence (RR 0.72, P = 0.0010) and match injury burden (RR 0.69, P < 0.001) were lower than the benchmark. In contrast, both overall- (RR 1.30, P < 0.001) and training-injury burden (RR 1.65, P < 0.001) were higher. A significant increase in adductor strains in both post-lockdown periods was observed. ConclusionsImmediately after the COVID-19 lockdown (short-term effect), there was no difference in injury incidence but a lower injury burden compared to benchmark. Moreover, the rapid return to competition for the successive season (long-term effect) was associated with a higher overall- and training-injury burden, but a lower match-injury burden compared to the benchmark.

Effects of strength training on ankle injuries in soccer players: a systematic review

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was (I) to determine the quality of evidence from studies evaluating the effects of strength training on the incidence of ankle injuries in soccer and (II) to determine the effectiveness of strength training on the incidence of ankle injuries in soccer. Methods: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) statements were considered using keywords associated with ankle injuries, strength training, and soccer. The following four databases were used: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus. The quality of evidence for the articles included in this review was assessed using the PEDro scale. Results: Of the 721 articles retrieved, two were included in this study. The total population included in the review was 132 male participants, including professional soccer players and youth players. Strength training in young soccer players could reduce the risk of injury and improve parameters related to sports performance; however, the two articles included in this review found no statistically significant differences in injury incidence between the proprioceptive training and control groups. Conclusions: The articles included in this review had a high risk of bias, indicating low quality of evidence. In addition, it was impossible to determine whether strength training effectively reduced ankle injuries in the soccer players. Keywords: Sports, ankle sprains, athletic injuries, resistance training

The impact of concussion on subsequent injury risk in elite junior Australian football athletes.

Concussion increases injury risk. However, this has not been investigated in junior Australian football and it is unknown whether the location, severity, and mechanism of subsequent injuries differ after concussion vs. non-concussion injury. Prospective cohort. 1455 elite adolescent male Australian footballers were tracked across seven seasons to determine whether subsequent injury risk was greater after concussion compared to non-concussion index injury using multilevel survival analysis. Mixed-effects logistic regression compared location and mechanism. Mixed-effects Poisson regression compared severity. Of 1455 athletes, 632 were injured and included in subsequent-injury analysis. There were no differences in injury incidence after a concussion compared to upper- (hazard ratio = 1.0, 0.6 to 1.9, P = 0.892; trivial effect) and lower (hazard ratio = 1.1, 0.6 to 1.9, P = 0.810; trivial effect) index injury, or in location. Subsequent injuries were more likely to be contact-based after a non-concussion injury than concussion (odds ratio = 4.6, 1.3 to 16.0; P = 0.017; large effect). There was no difference in subsequent injury severity after lower- (3.4 ± 3.0 missed matches; incidence rate ratio = 1.4, 0.9 to 2.1; P ≤ 0.117; small effect) and upper-limb injuries (3.4 ± 3.1 missed matches; incidence rate ratio = 1.4, 0.9 to 2.2; P = 0.189; small effect) compared to concussion (2.4 ± 2.0 missed matches). Subsequent injury risk, severity, and location in junior Australian football are similar following concussion compared to non-concussion index injuries, although contact injuries are less likely.

Extended Knee Control programme lowers weekly hamstring, knee and ankle injury prevalence compared with an adductor strength programme or self-selected injury prevention exercises in adolescent and adult amateur football players: a two-armed cluster-randomised trial with an additional comparison arm

ObjectiveTo evaluate the preventive efficacy of an extended version of the Knee Control injury prevention exercise programme (IPEP) compared with an adductor strength programme and to a comparison group using...

Chronotype and Social Jetlag Influence Performance and Injury during Reserve Officers' Training Corps Physical Training.

Sleep and circadian rhythms are critically important for optimal physical performance and maintaining health during training. Chronotype and altered sleep may modulate the response to exercise training, especially when performed at specific times/days, which may contribute to musculoskeletal injury. The purpose of this study was to determine if cadet characteristics (chronotype, sleep duration, and social jetlag) were associated with injury incidence and inflammation during physical training. Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets (n = 42) completed the Morningness/Eveningness Questionnaire to determine chronotype, and 1-week sleep logs to determine sleep duration and social jetlag. Salivary IL-6 was measured before and after the first and fourth exercise sessions during training. Prospective injury incidence was monitored over 14 weeks of training, and Army Physical Fitness Test scores were recorded at the conclusion. Chronotype, sleep duration, and social jetlag were assessed as independent factors impacting IL-6, injury incidence, and APFT scores using ANOVAs, chi-squared tests, and the t-test where appropriate, with significance accepted at p < 0.05. Evening chronotypes performed worse on the APFT (evening = 103.8 ± 59.8 vs. intermediate = 221.9 ± 40.3 vs. morning = 216.6 ± 43.6; p < 0.05), with no difference in injury incidence. Sleep duration did not significantly impact APFT score or injury incidence. Social jetlag was significantly higher in injured vs. uninjured cadets (2:40 ± 1:03 vs. 1:32 ± 55, p < 0.05). Exercise increased salivary IL-6, with no significant effects of chronotype, sleep duration, or social jetlag. Evening chronotypes and cadets with social jetlag display hampered performance during morning APFT. Social jetlag may be a behavioral biomarker for musculoskeletal injury risk, which requires further investigation.

Increased Knee and Meniscal Injury Incidence in Professional Baseball Pitchers With Wider, Positive Stride Width.

Professional baseball pitchers sustain 75% of knee injuries while at the pitcher's mound, yet no pitching motion has been associated directly with such injuries. Stride width is a potential, modifiable risk factor worth investigating. Increased stride width in both the positive and negative directions (deviations from neutral stride width) would correlate with increased incidence of knee injury in pitchers. Descriptive laboratory. Level 5. Professional pitchers (n = 199) were evaluated with motion capture (480 Hz) while pitching. Injury history over 10 years was recorded at face-to-face interviews with pitchers. Players were subsequently grouped into stride width tertiles, compared for previous injury incidence of the lower extremities. Regressions were performed to observe performance benefits of stride width with ball velocity, accuracy, or consistency in pitch location as secondary outcomes. Of the 40 lower extremity injuries reported, meniscal injury (27.5%) was the most common, followed by foot stress fracture (20.0%). Significant differences in injury incidence were noted between the least and most positive stride width tertiles: lower extremity (10.4% vs 25.8%, respectively; P = 0.03), knee (3.0% vs 15.2%, respectively; P = 0.02), and meniscal (0.0% vs 12.1%; P = 0.00). Stride width of pitchers with meniscal injury in the lead (32.6 ± 7.1 cm, n = 5; P = 0.02) and stance leg (33.5 ± 10.6 cm, n = 5; P = 0.03) was significantly more positive than that of uninjured pitchers (21.1 ± 11.5 cm, n = 164). No significant relationships were established between stride width and ball velocity (P = 0.54) or pitch location metrics (P > 0.05). Pitchers with increased positive, stride width had significantly higher incidence of lower extremity injury (knee and meniscus). Wider, positive stride width may increase the degree of external rotation on the lead knee in a loaded state, which can place the medial side of the knee (and meniscus) at higher risk of injury. Decreasing stride width may be beneficial for professional pitchers to reduce the rate of lower extremity injury, while also preserving performance metric outcomes.

Injury Profile in Professional Handball Players During 4 Consecutive Seasons According to Playing Positions: A Longitudinal Study.

The injury profile of each playing position in handball is a key factor in being able to improve the injury risk management process. Therefore, the aim of this study was to longitudinally analyze the differences in professional handball players' injury profile according to their playing position (ie, goalkeeper, back, wing, and line). Injury incidence and burden would be higher in back players compared with the other playing positions, while ligament and knee would be the most common injury type and location. Prospective cohort design. Level 4. Sixty-eight male handball players belonging to the same professional team participated in this study over 4 consecutive seasons. Injury incidence and injury burden were recorded as well as the severity, type, and location following the International Olympic Committee consensus statement. Although nonsignificant differences in injury incidence were found according to playing position (rate ratios [RRs] from 0.43 to 2.47; P > 0.05), back players reported the highest burden (60.65 absence days/1000 h; RR from 0.12 to 7.75;P < 0.05), with wing players showing a greater burden (54.29 absence days/1000 h; RR from 0.09 to 4.91; P < 0.05) in comparison with goalkeepers (12.19 absence days/1000 h) and line players (13.10 absence days/1000 h). Muscle/tendon injuries and sprains presented higher incidence and burden than other type of injuries, and a greater incidence and burden was reported for knee injuries in all playing positions. The highest injury incidence and injury burden is in back players in professional handball. This study provides comprehensive information on the injury profile of professional handball players, which can be useful for strength and conditioning coaches when developing specific injury risk management programs.

Update on Minimalist Running Shoes.

This article provides updated information comparing minimalist running shoes (MRS) to conventional running shoes (CRS). Our previous review found that, compared with running in CRS, transitioning to MRS resulted in lower energy cost and less ground contact occurring at the forefoot, resulting in lower impact forces. There was some increased risk of injury with MRS, although data were conflicting. A more recent 26-week study involved 30 trained runners using CRS and 31 using MRS. The proportion of training time in the assigned shoes increased by 5% each week. After the first 6 weeks of transition (35% of training time in the assigned shoe), energy cost was lower and 5-km running time faster in MRS compared with CRS. No further improvement occurred from weeks 6 to 26. There were no significant differences in injury incidence in the two groups (CRS = 37%, MRS = 52%; p = .24). Running-related pain was higher in the MRS group in the knee, shin, calf, and ankle and increased at these locations as running mileage increased. Risk of injury in MRS increased as participant body weight increased. These more recent data suggest that MRS can improve performance, but most runners should limit running in MRS to 35% of training time and in situations where optimal performance is desired (e.g., races, fitness tests).

The Effect Of Playing Surface On Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury In NCAA Soccer

Objectives: Previous orthopaedic literature has examined the effect of synthetic playing surfaces on the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in athletes and produced varying and inconclusive results. The objective of this study was to examine the role of playing surface on the incidence and risk of ACL injury in collegiate soccer athletes. Methods: The NCAA Injury Surveillance Program (ISP) database was queried for ACL injuries for male and female soccer players from the 2004-05 through the 2013-14 seasons at all levels of competition. The number of athlete exposures (AEs), defined as 1 athlete participating in 1 practice or competition in which they were exposed to the possibility of athletic injury, were recorded for grass and synthetic playing surfaces. Both the reported injuries and exposures provided were weighted in order to represent the entire NCAA collegiate soccer population. Normalized ACL incidence rates were calculated as well as 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Rate ratios comparing competition type amongst both competition and practice were calculated. Results: ACL injuries were more common on grass surfaces (1.16 per 10,000 AEs, 95%CI 1.12-1.20) than artificial turf (0.92 per 10,000 AEs, 95%CI 0.84-1.04). This difference was statistically significant (IRR 1.26, p&lt;0.0001), and driven primarily by the difference in injury incidence during practice. The injury incidence during practice on natural grass (1.18 per 10,000 AEs, 95% CI 1.11-1.26) was significantly greater than the injury incidence rate during practice on artificial turf (0.067 per 10,000 AEs, 95%CI 0.043-0.096). Players were 17.7 times more likely (95%CI 10.6678-27.2187, p&lt;0.0001) to sustain an ACL injury during practice on natural grass when compared to practice on artificial turf. However, there was no significant difference in injury incidence during matches (IRR 0.96, p=0.44), with matches on natural grass (3.35 per 10,000 AEs, 95% CI 3.21-3.51) equivalent to matches on artificial surfaces (3.49 per 10,000 AEs, 95%CI 3.18-3.81). When comparing exposure type, the injury rate was significantly greater during matches (3.38 per 10,000 AEs, 95% CI 3.25-3.52) compared to practices (0.82 per 10,000 AEs, 95%CI 0.77-0.88), with a 4.10-fold increase in ACL injury incidence during matches compared to practice (p&lt;0.0001). Conclusion: Between 2004 and 2014, NCAA soccer players experienced a greater number of ACL injuries on natural grass playing surfaces compared with artificial turf playing surfaces. This difference is driven by injuries during practice, where athletes were nearly 18 times more likely to suffer an ACL injury on grass versus artificial turf. While ACL injuries were more likely during matches compared to practices, no difference in incidence was noted between playing surfaces. Additional study is warranted investigating potential causes for this observed increased risk with soccer practice on grass fields.

A Retrospective Investigation on Age and Gender Differences of Injuries in DanceSport.

In spite of the extensive research on incidence site and type of injury in ballet and modern dancers, limited studies on injury in DanceSport have been reported. Therefore, this study determined retrospectively (within last 12 months) incidence, severity, site and type of injury, between gender and age-class in DanceSport. Participants were 97 international sport-dancers (female, 41; male, 56). Sixty-six (69%) dancers reported 96 injuries (1.00 (range = 4)) injuries per dancer) and an injury incidence of 1.7 (range = 14) per 1000 h. Females revealed significantly higher median injury incidence (females, 2.6 (range = 14); males, 1.9 (range = 9), p < 0.05) than males. A total of 61.5% of all injuries recorded were traumatic with a significant gender difference (Wald chi-square = 11.616, df = 1, p < 0.01). Injury severity was 3 (range 240) days with an interaction effect between gender and age-class (Wald chi-square = 251.374, df = 3, p < 0.001). Meanwhile, 72.3% of the dancers reported not including sport specific exercises besides dancing. These findings show gender and age-class differences in injury incidence, type and severity. Therefore, to reduce the likelihood of injuries, the implementation of supplemental DanceSport specific exercises that also considers the gender and age-class anatomical, functional, and choreographic demand differences in the training program should be recognized.

Differences in Kinetics, Kinematics and Muscle Activation Strategies in Male and Female Team Sport Athletes During Unanticipated Sidestepping

The purpose of this study was to compare kinetics, kinematics and muscle activation strategies between male and female collegiate level athletes during unanticipated sidestepping tasks to further the understanding of sex-specific differences in injury incidence and their potential influence on ACL injury risk. Three-dimensional kinematics, ground reaction forces and surface electromyography of eight lower limb muscles were recorded during unanticipated sidestepping in 20 male soccer and 17 female field hockey National Collegiate Athletics Association Division 1 athletes. Trunk, hip and knee kinematics, knee joint moments, total muscle activation (TMA: knee, gluteal, quadriceps, hamstrings and gastrocnemii) and directed co-contraction ratios (DCCR) were compared between groups with two-sample t tests. No sex differences were observed for peak frontal and transverse plane knee moments (P > 0.05), however males had 10% greater knee flexion moments (P = 0.047). Females had lower hip flexion and abduction and greater hip internal rotation angles than males likely concomitant with the 30% reduction in gluteal TMA (P < 0.05). Females had lower quadriceps TMA during pre-contact and weight acceptance and higher hamstrings TMA during weight acceptance (P < 0.05). Group averages for DCCR were not representative of individual patterns, where the majority of males were quadriceps dominant compared with females. Female and male team sport athletes display similar frontal and transverse plane knee moments, however their ability to support/counter the load applied (i.e., muscle activations strategies) to the knee joint differed.

Pediatric Handlebar Injuries: More Than Meets the Abdomen.

Injuries associated with bicycles can generally be categorized into 2 types: injuries from falling from/off bicycles and injuries from striking the bicycle. In the second mechanism category, most occur as a result of children striking their body against the bicycle handlebar. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presentation, body location, injury severity, and need for intervention for pediatric handlebar injuries at a single level one pediatric trauma center and contrast these against other bicycle-related injuries in children. This work is a retrospective review of the trauma registry over an 8-year period. Individual charts were then reviewed for patients' demographic factors, injury details, and other clinical/radiographic findings. Each patient was then categorized as either having a handlebar versus nonhandlebar injury. Additionally, each patient's injuries were classified according to affected body "zone(s)" and the need for intervention in relation to these injuries. During the course of chart review, several unique radiographic and history/physical findings were noted and are also reported. During the study period, 385 patients were identified that met study criteria. Bicycle handlebars were involved in 27.8% (107/385) of injuries and 72.2% (278/385) were nonhandlebar injuries. There were differences in injury severity score, Head Abbreviated Injury Scale, length of stay between patients with handlebar versus nonhandlebar injuries, respectively. There were also differences in incidence of injuries across most body zones between patients with handlebar versus nonhandlebar injuries. There was statistically significant difference in need for intervention for abdominal solid organ injuries among handlebar versus nonhandlebar injuries mechanisms (21.6% vs 0%; P = 0.026), respectively. Sixteen patients with a handlebar injury underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT), which found only pericolic/pelvic free fluid or were negative for any disease and had normal/mildly elevated liver function test results at the time of arrival with otherwise normal laboratory workup results. Two patients required laparotomy for bowel injury and presented with peritonitis less than 12 hours after injury. The remaining patients did not have peritonitis on examination and were discharged without operative intervention 12 to 24 hours after injury without further event. The bicycle handlebar is a unique mechanism of injury. The location, need for intervention, and the nature of the injury can vary significantly compared to other bicycle injuries. Handlebar injuries are more likely to cause abdominal and soft tissue injuries, whereas nonhandlebar injuries are more likely to cause extremity and skull/neck/central nervous system injuries. Because more than 20% of the reported handlebar injuries did not involve the abdomen or thoracoabdominal/extremity soft tissue as well as the variable presentation of handlebar injuries, it is imperative for the physician to consider this mechanism in all bicycle injuries. In addition, even within the same area of the body, handlebar injuries can be very different compared to nonhandlebar (i.e., orthopedic vs vascular injuries in the extremities). Physical examination and observation remain paramount when laboratory and radiographic workups are equivocal.

Could specific exercises based on a movement screen prevent injuries in adolescent elite athletes?

ObjectivesThe primary aim of this study was to explore if specific exercises based on the nine test screening battery (9SB) reduce short-term and seasonal injury occurrence in adolescent elite athletes. SettingYouth elite sports. DesignProspective intervention study over 1-year. ParticipantsAdolescent elite athletes (n = 216) in age 15–20 from seven different sports. Main outcome measuresSeasonal/short-term injury incidence and seasonal substantial/injury prevalence was obtained via weekly surveys completed by study participants. ResultsThere was a significant (p = 0.036) difference in the seasonal substantial injury prevalence across number of times the exercises were performed (exercise category), where athletes performing the exercises ≥4 times/week reported significantly (p = 0.048) higher seasonal substantial injury prevalence compared to athletes completing the exercises once a week (median 15.4 vs 0%, r = 0.25). No statistically significant difference in injury incidence (p = 0.429) or seasonal injury prevalence (p = 0.171) was found across exercise category. Performing the exercises once a day compared to not at all did not reduce the short-term risk of new injury or substantial injury. ConclusionsOur results provide supporting evidence that completing specific exercises based on the 9SB have no group effect on short-term or seasonal injury occurrence in adolescent elite athletes.

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

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.

Musculoskeletal Injuries Among Female Soldiers Working With Dogs.

Female soldiers serving in the Israeli Defense Forces canine unit may be at increased risk of overuse injuries related to working with military dogs. We hypothesized that this particular type of occupational exposure may lead to an increased strain of the upper extremity due to such non-physiologic motions as pulling the dog's strap or resisting the sudden pulling by the dog, and may result in an increased rate of overuse injuries. We compared incidence of overuse injuries in a retrospective cohort of female soldiers who served either in the military working dogs' unit (MWD), or in the light infantry battalions (Infantry) from 2005 to 2015. We compared injury incidence of both groups during two periods: 5 mo of basic training (neither worked with dogs) and 19 or more months of combat service. Incidence was calculated as number of diagnoses per person-months (rate ratios, RR); each diagnosis counted once per study subject. We used RR confidence intervals to compare incidence of injuries between groups. There were 3,443 person-months in the MWD group and 194,590 person-months in the Infantry group. There was no difference in injury incidence between groups during the initial period of basic training. During the second period, MWDs had higher incidence of upper limb (RR = 1.45, p = 0.048) and hip (RR = 3.6, p < 0.0001) injuries. The association between service with dogs and upper limb injuries remained significant (RR = 1.09, p = 0.005) after adjusting for confounding variables in the multivariate regression analysis. Other independent predictors of the upper limb overuse injuries included each additional month of service (RR = 1.003, p = 0.008), Eastern European origin compared with Israeli-born recruits (RR = 0.97, p = 0.03), increased body weight in increments of 10 kg (RR = 1.008, p = 0.03), anemia (RR = 1.02, p = 0.02) and fatigue (RR = 1.05, p ≤ 0.0001). We found that service in the MWD unit was associated with increased risk of upper limb injuries. Identification of the exact mechanism of injury and targeted interventions, as well as treatment of anemia and fatigue may lead to reduction of injuries in this unit.

Sex differences in muscle morphology of the knee flexors and knee extensors

IntroductionFemales experience higher risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries; males experience higher risk of hamstring strain injuries. Differences in injury may be partially due to sex differences in knee flexor (KF) to knee extensor (KE) muscle size ratio and the proportional size of constituent muscles.PurposeTo compare the absolute and proportional size, and mass distribution, of individual KE and KF muscles, as well as overall size and balance (size ratio) of these muscle groups between the sexes.MethodsT1-weighted axial plane MR images (1.5T) of healthy untrained young males and females (32 vs 34) were acquired to determine thigh muscle anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSA). Maximal ACSA (ACSAmax) of constituent muscles, summated for KF and KE muscle groups, and the KF:KE ratio were calculated.ResultsFemales had 25.3% smaller KE ACSAmax (70.9±12.1 vs 93.6±10.3 cm2; P<0.001) and 29.6% smaller KF ACSAmax than males (38.8±7.3cm2 vs 55.1±7.3cm2; P<0.001). Consequently, females had lower KF:KE ACSA ratio (P = 0.031). There were sex differences in the proportional size of 2/4 KE and 5/6 KF. In females, vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris long-head (BFlh) and semimembranosus (SM) were a greater proportion and sartorius (SA), gracilis (GR) and biceps femoris short-head (BFsh) a smaller proportion of their respective muscle groups compared to males (All P<0.05).ConclusionSex differences in KF:KE ACSAmax ratio may contribute to increased risk of ACL injury in females. Sex discrepancies in absolute and proportional size of SA, GR, VL and BFlh may contribute further anatomical explanations for sex differences in injury incidence.

대학 씨름선수의 상해형태와 상해 발생률

The purpose of this study was to examine and analyze the type and rate of injuries among collegiate ssireum wrestlers in order to provide information for injury prevention. Participants were 158 collegiate ssireum wrestlers who were surveyed using five general items and five injury related items. Data were analyzed in SPSS 22.0K by applying frequency analysis, cross-analysis, and t-test. Results showed that the most frequent injury site was waist / lower back, followed in order by ankle, knee, shoulder, and wrist; the most frequent type of injury was ligament damage, followed in order by muscle and tendon damage, bruises, and fractures. Additionally, the most frequency injurious activity was using waist techniques, followed in order by leg techniques, weight training, and hand techniques. There was no significant difference in the frequency distribution of injury experience, number of injuries, and differences in injury incidence with regard to either players experience or level of performance. Future research should examine the effects of academic level, and changes in game rules on injury rates; furthermore, there is a need to research and develop safer training methods and an injury prevention program that can be applied directly in the field.

Profile of Rugby Injuries in High School Zimbabwean Adolescents

Background: Rugby is a popular sport played in many countries worldwide. There has been recent growing interest for the sport in Zimbabwe especially among adolescents. However, no study has been done to documentthe profile of rugby-related injuries among Zimbabwean adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 years. The goal of the present study is to describe the injuries sustained by adolescent males during the 2014 high school rugby season. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 275 male adolescents’ rugby players who competed in the Super Eight School Rugby League in Harare, Zimbabwe. Results: The mean age of the sample was 16 years (SD = 1.4). 58.2% of participants sustained at least one rugby-related injury. There were 561 injuries reported in total, of which 63.3% (n = 355) were new injuries and the remainder were recurrent cases. 7.7% (n = 43) of the injuries were graded as severe with participants missing rugby activities for more than 28 days. Of the 561 injuries that occurred, 59.4% (n = 333) occurred during competitive matches in the second half (59.5%). Injuries due to tackles were the most frequent accounting for 48.3% (n = 271) of all injuries sustained. The lower limbs were the most frequent body region affected (38.6%, n = 217). When comparing position of play, flankers sustained the most injuries (14.1%) and there were no differences in incidence of injury between forward and backline players. Conclusion: Our findings on the profile of rugby injuries among male Zimbabwean adolescents were similar to those of other studies in certain aspects but differed in others. Most injuries occurred in competition during the second half of the game mainly from tackles. Both junior and senior players were equally affected. The lower limbs were frequently injured especially the knee region.