School Sports Injury Research Articles

Rankings of High School Sports Injury Rates Differ Based on Time Loss Assessments.

To examine how injury definition inclusiveness affects the rank order of injury rates in 27 high school (HS) sports. The National Athletic Treatment, Injury and Outcomes Network (NATION) used certified athletic trainers (ATs) to collect injury and athlete-exposure (AE) data in practices and competitions for 27 HS sports during the 2011/2012 to 2013/2014 academic years. Time loss (TL) injuries resulted in ≥24 hours of participation restriction. Nontime loss (NTL) injuries resulted in <24 hours of participation restriction. Aggregate injury and exposure data collected from 27 HS sports. High school student-athletes. Sports injury data from the National Athletic Treatment, Injury and Outcomes Network. Time loss and TL + NTL injury rates were calculated. Sport-specific rates were placed in rank order, stratified by gender. Most of the 47 014 injuries reported were NTL (82.8%). Among boys' sports, TL injury rates were greatest in football (3.27/1000AE) and wrestling (2.43/1000AE); TL + NTL injury rates were greatest also in football (15.29/1000AE) and wrestling (11.62/1000AE). Among girls' sports, TL injury rates were greatest in soccer (1.97/1000AE) and basketball (1.76/1000AE); TL + NTL injury rates were greatest in field hockey and lacrosse (both 11.32/1000AE). The rank order of injury rates and the resulting injury prevention priorities may depend on injury definition inclusiveness, particularly in female HS sports.

Time Trends in Concussion Symptom Presentation and Assessment Methods in High School Athletes

Background: Concussion rates have increased significantly over the past decade. This may reflect an increase in the knowledge and diagnosis of the symptoms of a concussion rather than a true increase in the incidence. Assessing trends in the way that concussions are presenting to and being identified by clinicians over the same period may provide additional insight into the apparent rise in concussions. Purpose: To evaluate patterns of change in concussion symptom presentation, diagnostic/evaluation methods, and symptom resolution time reported for United States high school athletes from the 2007-2008 through 2014-2015 academic years. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of a web-based longitudinal high school sports injury surveillance database (High School RIO [Reporting Information Online]) collected from 2007-2008 through 2014-2015. For each concussion, athletic trainers entered data regarding symptom presentation, resolution time, and diagnostic/evaluation tools utilized. Academic year was the primary exposure in assessing each aim. Time trends were then assessed using linear regression or the Cochran-Armitage test for trends, depending on the outcome distribution. Results: The proportion of concussed athletes presenting with amnesia, loss of consciousness (LOC), and tinnitus significantly decreased from 2007-2008 through 2014-2015, while the proportion presenting with drowsiness, irritability, light sensitivity, and noise sensitivity increased significantly. The use of diagnostic radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography all significantly decreased during the study period, while the use of computerized neurocognitive tests increased. Concussion symptoms took significantly longer to resolve in more recent years. Conclusion: The decrease in what have traditionally been considered severe symptoms (LOC, amnesia) and the increase in what were traditionally considered minor symptoms (drowsiness, irritability, light sensitivity) suggest that clinicians may have a lower threshold in diagnosing sports-related concussions in more recent years. The significant reduction in the use of all forms of diagnostic head imaging demonstrates an increased recognition of concussions as functional disturbances rather than structural abnormalities. Improved concussion education and the nationwide passage of state-level concussion legislation have likely led to the increased recognition of lingering symptoms in athletes with a diagnosed concussion, thereby leading to a longer symptom resolution time.

Epidemiology of Chest, Rib, Thoracic Spine, and Abdomen Injuries Among United States High School Athletes, 2005/06 to 2013/14.

Describe chest and abdominal injury epidemiology among US high school athletes. Retrospective analysis of longitudinal surveillance data. Injury data from 2005/06 to 2013/14 academic years were collected using an internet-based surveillance system. A large sample of US high schools. Injuries sustained as a function of sport. Chest, rib, thoracic spine, and abdominal injuries sustained during high school athletic events. Overall 1487 chest, rib, thoracic spine, and abdominal injuries occurred during 30 415 179 athletic exposures (AEs); an injury rate of 4.9 injuries per 100 000 AEs. Over half (56.8%) of injured athletes were evaluated by another medical provider in addition to the athletic trainer, and 34 injuries (2.3%) required surgery. Diagnostic techniques, including x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography were used in 729 (49.0%) injuries. The injury rate was higher in boys' (6.8) than girls' (2.0) sports [rate ratio (RR), 3.43; 95% CI, 3.04-4.10]. Football (47.7%) accounted for the highest proportion of injuries followed by wrestling (18.5%), boys' soccer (4.6%), and girls' soccer (3.7%). The rate of injury was higher in competition than practice, (RR, 2.86; 95% CI, 2.59-3.23). Only 57.7% of injured athletes were able to return to play within 1 week. Chest and abdominal injuries in high school sports although relatively rare, can result in loss of playing time and frequently prompt medical evaluation. Thus, they present a physical and economic burden. To optimize prevention, further studies can focus on subgroup risk factor identification to drive development of targeted prevention strategies.

Eye Injuries in High School and Collegiate Athletes.

Background:Although eye injuries constitute a small percentage of high school and college sports injuries, they have the potential to be permanently debilitating.Hypothesis:Eye injury rates will vary by sport, sex, and between the high school and college age groups.Study Design:Descriptive epidemiology study.Level of Evidence:Level 3.Methods:Data from eye injury reports in high school and college athletes were obtained from the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance System, High School Reporting Information Online (HS RIO) database over a 10-year span (2005-2006 through 2014-2015 school years) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Injury Surveillance Program (ISP) over an 11-year span (2004-2005 through 2014-2015 school years). Injury rates per 100,000 athlete-exposures (AEs), injury rate ratios (RRs), and 95% CIs were calculated. Distributions of eye injuries by diagnosis, mechanism, time loss, and surgery needs were also examined.Results:A total of 237 and 273 eye injuries were reported in the HS RIO and the NCAA ISP databases, respectively. The sports with the highest eye injury rates (per 100,000 AEs) for combined high school and college athletes were women’s basketball (2.36), women’s field hockey (2.35), men’s basketball (2.31), and men’s wrestling (2.07). Overall eye injury rates at the high school and college levels were 0.68 and 1.84 per 100,000 AEs, respectively. Eye injury rates were higher in competition than practice in high school (RR, 3.47; 95% CI, 2.69-4.48) and college (RR, 3.13; 95% CI, 2.45-3.99). Most injuries were contusions (high school, 35.9%; college, 33.3%) and due to contact (high school, 89.9%; college, 86.4%). Only a small percentage of injuries resulted in time loss over 21 days (high school, 4.2%; college, 3.0%).Conclusion:Eye injury rates and patterns vary by sport, sex, and between the high school and college age groups. Although severe injuries do occur, most eye injuries sustained by high school and college athletes are minor, with limited time loss and full recovery.Clinical Relevance:Additional focus needs to be placed on preventing eye injuries at the collegiate level in women’s and men’s basketball, women’s field hockey, and men’s wrestling.

Epidemiology of Middle School Sports Injuries in the Mid-atlantic Region Of The United States

Epidemiology of Middle School Sports Injuries in the Mid-atlantic Region Of The United States

Descriptive Epidemiology of Non-Time-Loss Injuries in Collegiate and High School Student-Athletes.

Research on non-time-loss (NTL) injuries, which result in less than 24 hours of restriction from participation, is limited. To describe the epidemiology of NTL injuries among collegiate and high school student-athletes. Descriptive epidemiology study. Aggregate injury and exposure data collected from a convenience sample of National College Athletic Association varsity teams and 147 high schools in 26 states. Collegiate and high school student-athletes participating in men's and boys' baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, soccer, and wrestling and women's and girls' basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, and volleyball during the 2009-2010 through 2013-2014 and the 2011-2012 through 2013-2014 academic years, respectively, participated. Collegiate student-athletes participating in men's and women's ice hockey were also included. Injury data from the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program and the National Athletic Treatment, Injury and Outcomes Network were analyzed. Injury counts, rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs), and rate ratios were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 11 899 and 30 122 NTL injuries were reported in collegiate and high school student-athletes, respectively. The proportion of NTL injuries in high school student-athletes (80.3%) was 1.61 times greater than that of collegiate student-athletes (49.9%; 95% CI = 1.59, 1.63). The NTL injury rate in high school student-athletes (8.75/1000 athlete-exposures [AEs]) was 2.18 times greater than that of collegiate student-athletes (4.02/1000 AEs; 95% CI = 2.13, 2.22). Men's ice hockey (5.27/1000 AEs) and boys' football (11.94/1000 AEs) had the highest NTL injury rates among collegiate and high school athletes, respectively. Commonly injured body parts in collegiate and high school student-athletes were the hip/thigh/upper leg (17.5%) and hand/wrist (18.2%), respectively. At both levels, contusions, sprains, and strains were the most frequent diagnoses. Contact with another player was the most cited injury mechanism (college = 38.0%, high school = 46.3%). Non-time-loss injuries compose large proportions of collegiate and high school sports injuries. However, the NTL injury rate was higher in high school than in collegiate student-athletes. Tracking NTL injuries will help to better describe the breadth of injuries sustained by athletes and managed by athletic trainers.

THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF US HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL (SOCCER) INJURIES, 2005–06 THROUGH 2013–14

BackgroundDespite the worldwide popularity of football, research on epidemiology of high school injury is sparse.ObjectiveTo describe high school football injury rates and patterns by type of athletic exposure and gender.DesignThis...

Nine-year study of US high school soccer injuries: data from a national sports injury surveillance programme

BackgroundResearch on high school soccer injury epidemiology is sparse.AimTo describe high school soccer injury rates, trends and patterns by type of athlete exposure (AE), position and sex.MethodsThis descriptive epidemiological study...

Evaluating Postural Control and Ankle Laxity Between Taping and High-Top Cleats in High School Football Players.

Lateral ankle sprains are the most common injuries in high school sports. While ankle taping is a preferred method of external prophylactic support, its restrictive properties decline during exercise. The Under Armour® Highlight cleat is marketed on the premise that it provides added support without the need for additional ankle taping. To determine if differences in ankle joint laxity and postural control exist between football players wearing the Under Armour® Highlight cleat (Under Armour Inc, Baltimore, MD) as compared to a low/mid-top cleat with ankle tape. Crossover trial. Athletic training room and football practice field sideline. 32 interscholastic football players (15.8 ± 1.0y; 178.9 ± 7.4cm; 87.1 ± 21.4kg). Ankle laxity was assessed using an instrumented ankle arthrometer (Blue Bay Research Inc, Milton, FL), while postural control testing was performed on the Tekscan MobileMat™ Balanced Error Scoring System (BESS; South Boston, MA). The 2 treatments included Under Armour® Highlight cleats and a low/mid-top cleat with ankle tape applied to the nondominant ankle only. Measurements were taken before and immediately after practice. The independent variable was treatment (Highlight vs low/mid-top cleat with ankle tape). Dependent variables included ankle arthrometry measures of anterior displacement (mm), inversion/eversion rotation (deg), and the modified BESS error scores. A linear mixed-effects model was used for analysis. The low/mid-top cleat with tape condition had significantly higher inversion range-of-motion (ROM) and inversion/eversion rotation postexercise when compared to the Highlight cleat (P < 0.05). The results of this study provide some evidence that the Under Armour® Highlight cleat restricts ankle ROM following a training session better than the taped low/mid-top cleat. Further study is warranted to determine if this high-top style of football cleat can reduce the incidence of ankle sprains and how it might compare to spat taping.

Adolescent physical activity-related injuries in sports club, school sports and other leisure time physical activities

AbstractBackground: The objective was to study physical activity (PA)-related injuries in sports club, school sports, and other leisure time PA, and the associations between injuries and PA participation frequency and intensity. Methods: A nationally representative sample was obtained and a structured questionnaire was sent. A total of 9,462 Finns (12–18 years) completed the survey. Prevalence of PA-related injuries was gathered by separate questions about sports club injuries, school sports injuries and other leisure time PA injuries. Results: Injury prevalence was higher in sports club activities than in other leisure time PA or school sports for boys (p < 0.001) and girls (p < 0.001). The prevalence of other leisure time injuries was higher than the prevalence of injuries in school sports for boys (p < 0.001) and girls (p < 0.001). Injuries were associated with higher frequency (OR 10.4, 95% CI 6.7–16.3) and intensity (OR 4.1, 95% CI 2.9–5.8) of PA. Conclusions: Out of the three settings, injury preval...

Dental Injuries and Mouthguard Use Among High School Athletes

Research Article| May 01 2016 Dental Injuries and Mouthguard Use Among High School Athletes AAP Grand Rounds (2016) 35 (5): 53. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.35-5-53 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Dental Injuries and Mouthguard Use Among High School Athletes. AAP Grand Rounds May 2016; 35 (5): 53. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.35-5-53 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All PublicationsAll JournalsAAP Grand RoundsPediatricsHospital PediatricsPediatrics In ReviewNeoReviewsAAP NewsAll AAP Sites Search Advanced Search Topics: dental trauma, mouth protectors, student athletes Source: Collins CL, McKenzie LB, Ferketich AK, et al. Dental injuries sustained by high school athletes in the United States, from 2008/2009 through 2013/2014 academic years. Dent Traumatol. 2016; 32(2): 121– 127; doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/edt.12228Google Scholar Researchers from multiple institutions assessed the rate of dental injuries among high school athletes and determined athletes’ use of mouthguards at the time of injury. Data were obtained from the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study, which collects information about high school athlete injuries on a weekly basis from certified athletic trainers (AT) at a national sample of US high schools. Data from academic years 2008–2009 through 2013–2014 were included in this study. ATs used a standardized, internet-based injury report that included information on the number of athlete competitions, athlete practices, and reportable injuries sustained by athletes by sport, including dental injury. A dental injury was defined as any injury to the teeth and/or mouth of an athlete that occurred as a result of participation in a high school competition, practice, or performance, required medical attention, and resulted in restriction of the athlete’s participation for ≥1 days. ATs were asked to include the type of dental injury, how it occurred, and information about the use of self-fitted or professionally-fitted mouthguards at the time of injury. The primary outcome was dental injury rates. The rate of dental injury was calculated as the ratio of injuries per 100,000 athletic exposures (AEs), which was defined as 1 athlete participating in 1 practice, competition, or performance. Rates of dental injury were compared across sports and the rate of dental injury during practice was compared to the rate of injury during competition. During the study period, 222 dental injuries occurred during 24,787,258 AEs for a rate of 0.9 per 100,000. Oral lacerations, tooth fractures, and tooth avulsion injuries accounted for 36.5%, 23.9%, and 11.3% of the dental injuries, respectively. Dental injuries most commonly occurred due to contact with another player (61.3%) or with a playing apparatus (31.5%). Dental injuries occurred more often during competition (1.8 per 100,000) than practice (0.6 per 100,000). Girls’ field hockey (3.9 per 100,000) and boys’ basketball (2.6 per 100,000) were the sports with highest rates of dental injuries. In most cases of dental injury, the athlete was not wearing a mouthguard (72.5%). In those instances where an injury was sustained while wearing a mouthguard, most athletes were wearing self-fitted mouthguards (95.9%). The authors conclude that dental injuries in high school sports are uncommon but may potentially be prevented by wearing a mouthguard. Dr Karp has disclosed no financial relationship relevant to this commentary. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device. Mouthguards are advocated by the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry as effective protective equipment for preventing or reducing the severity of dental injuries.1,2 The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) requires mouthguard use... You do not currently have access to this content.

Sex Differences in the Incidence of Anterior Cruciate Ligament, Medial Collateral Ligament, and Meniscal Injuries in Collegiate and High School Sports

Background: Previous research has noted sex-based differences in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury rates in young athletes, while little is known about medial collateral ligament (MCL) and meniscal injury rates in this population. The objective of this study was to compare injury rates for traumatic knee injuries (ie, ACL, MCL, and meniscal injuries) in collegiate and high school (HS) varsity student-athletes across multiple sports. Hypothesis: Knee injury rates vary by sex and across different sports and levels of competition. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Injury and athlete-exposure data were utilized from the National Athletic Treatment, Injury and Outcomes Network (NATION) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Injury Surveillance Program (ISP) during the 2009-2010 to 2013-2014 academic years. Analyses focused on ACL, MCL, and meniscal injuries. Injury rates and injury rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% CIs were calculated for basketball, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and baseball/softball. Results: The ACL injury rate was higher for female than male athletes at the collegiate (IRR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.81-3.41) and HS (IRR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.67-3.18) levels. At the collegiate level, the highest ACL IRR comparing female to male athletes was reported in softball/baseball (IRR, 6.61; 95% CI, 1.48-29.55). At the HS level, the highest ACL IRR was reported in basketball (IRR, 3.68; 95% CI, 1.91-7.10). The MCL injury rate was higher for female than male athletes at the HS level (IRR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.25-3.56) but lower for female than male athletes at the collegiate level (IRR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.59-0.92). The meniscal injury rate was lower for female than male athletes at the HS level (IRR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.31-0.71), while no differences by sex were seen at the collegiate level (IRR, 1.35; 95% CI, 0.90-2.02). Conclusion: Knee injury rates varied by sex across 5 different sports in the HS and collegiate settings. Female athletes sustained ACL injuries at a higher rate than male athletes at both the HS and collegiate levels in these 5 sports; however, there was not a distinct sex disparity in MCL and meniscal injuries. Future studies should examine the rates of concomitant and recurrent injuries to inform injury prevention and rehabilitation programs.

Epidemiology of Injuries in United States High School Track and Field

Background: Track and field is one of the most popular high school sports among boys and girls, but epidemiological research on the sport and its individual events has been limited. Purpose: To describe injury rates and patterns in boys’ and girls’ high school track and field. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: A retrospective epidemiological analysis of injury and exposure data from a longitudinal national high school sports injury surveillance system was conducted. Results: From 2008-2009 through 2013-2014, 2485 track and field injuries occurred during 2,962,308 athlete exposures (0.84 injuries per 1000 athlete exposures). Injury rates were higher in competition versus practice for both sexes. Girls had higher injury rates than boys overall (rate ratio, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.27-1.48) and in practice (rate ratio, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.46-1.76), but competition injury rates did not differ. Overuse/chronic injuries accounted for 27.5% and 36.2% of boys’ and girls’ track and field injuries, respectively. The majority of injuries were to the lower extremity. Sprints, distance running, and jumps accounted for over 65% of all track injuries. Boys sustained a greater proportion of injuries in relay events (injury proportion ratio, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.69-2.36) but fewer in hurdle events (injury proportion ratio, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.23-0.78). Conclusion: Injury rates varied by event, sex, and competition versus practice exposure. To increase effectiveness, targeted strategies for injury prevention should be driven by an understanding of such differences. Because many track and field injuries are overuse/chronic across sexes and for both competitions and practices, coaches and athletic trainers should be adept at recognizing early injury symptoms, intervene to treat minor injuries in order to prevent severe injuries, and ensure the prompt diagnosis and management of all injuries.

Eye Protection and Risk of Eye Injuries in High School Field Hockey.

To determine if injury rates among female field hockey players differ before and after implementation of a national mandate for protective eyewear (MPE). We analyzed girls' field hockey exposure and injury data collected from national (High School Reporting Information Online [RIO]) and regional (Fairfax County Public Schools) high school sports injury databases in 2 seasons before (2009/10 and 2010/11) and 2 seasons after (2011/12 and 2012/13) a national MPE. The incidence of eye/orbital injuries was significantly higher in states without MPE (0.080 injuries per 1000 athletic exposures [AEs]) than in states with MPE (before the 2011/12 mandate) and the postmandate group (0.025 injuries per 1000 AEs) (odds ratio 3.20, 95% confidence interval 1.47-6.99, P = .003). There was no significant difference in concussion rates for the 2 groups (odds ratio 0.77, 95% confidence interval 0.58-1.02, P = .068). After the 2011/12 MPE, severe eye/orbital injuries (time loss >21 days) were reduced by 67%, and severe/medical disqualification head/face injuries were reduced by 70%. Concussion rates for field hockey (0.335 per 1000 AEs) rank third among girls' sports included in the High School RIO surveillance program. Among female high school field hockey players, MPE is associated with a reduced incidence of eye/orbital injuries and fewer severe eye/orbital and head/face injuries. Concussion rates did not change as a result of the national MPE. Concussion remains the most common injury involving the head and face among female field hockey players, prompting further inquiry into potential effects of adopting protective headgear/helmets.

Safety in physical education - a teacher's perspective

A high percentage of all sports injuries occur during school sports. The aim of this study was to collect statements and opinions of sports teachers for safety in physical education. In a cross-sectional study, 296 teachers (202 with, 94 without a teaching qualification in"exercise and sports") at 77 Tyrolean "New Middle Schools" (former secondary schools) were interviewed. They judged various statements on school sports safety using a 5-point verbal rating scale. Irrespective of gender, teachers with a teaching qualification stated significantly more frequently (p = 0.015) that they have participated in continuing education on accident prevention than had their colleagues without qualification. The same applies to the checking of gymnastic and sports equipment before use (p < 0.001) and warming up at the beginning of the lesson (p < 0.001). Female sports teachers allowed their pupils more often (p = 0.002) to participate without adequate sportswear in physical education than did their male counterparts. Of all respondents, 57 % knew about technical faults in sports halls, which have also been reported to the school administration. In more than half (58 %) of these, reported defects were repaired completely and in one-third (36 %), a partial repair was reported. Participants estimated that the major risk for school sports injuries was due to the low motor skills of the pupils, inhomogeneous groups, large numbers of pupils, outdated sports equipment, and ball games. Since about a third of all surveyed teachers had no teaching qualification in exercise and sports, this group should come into the focus of regular continuing education in accident prevention.

Sideline concussion testing in high school football on Guam.

Background:The risks of repeat concussions and returning to play (RTP) prior to the resolution of concussive symptoms are medically established. However, RTP guidelines for high school sports are varied and often notably absent. The island of Guam, a US territory, has a robust athletics program but lacks structure to reduce concussions or establish RTP protocols. Consequently, there is an opportunity to limit the incidence of “second-hit syndrome” and other harmful effects through education and testing.Methods:We evaluated the feasibility of Sideline Concussion Testing SCT) as a novel feature of Guam high school athletics. Thirteen high school football players were observed over three consecutive football games. They were first given a questionnaire about concussion history, symptoms, medical evaluation, and RTP. Researchers used the King–Devick Test, a SCT tool, and baseline scores were recorded. If players were then observed to have significant head trauma or to show concussive symptoms, they were sidelined and tested.Results:Five of 13 students had a previous concussion and limited awareness of RTP guidelines. Of those five, four received no medical consultation or stand down period before RTP. There was also a lack of understanding of what constitutes a concussion; five out of eight individuals who denied previous concussion confirmed having bell ringers, seeing stars, and other classic concussive symptoms. Over the course of the study the SCT identified three concussions, with significant deviations from baseline time on a test that measured visual and speech disturbances.Conclusions:The feasibility of SCT use in Guam high school football was established and our pilot study identified areas for improvement. Established definitions of concussion and RTP guidelines were lacking. Therefore, an opportunity exists through public health efforts that involve the entire community to increase concussion awareness and reduce injuries in high school sports on Guam.

Prevalência de lesões em escolares praticantes de atividade física: uma análise retrospectiva

Introdução: Estudos demonstram que a prática de atividade física pode proporcionar benefícios para as pessoas; porém, sempre há o risco de lesões. Objetivos: Realizar uma análise retrospectiva da prevalência de lesões em escolares, nas aulas de Educação Física, e nas equipes esportivas representativas de escola da região central do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Métodos: Foi realizado um levantamento retrospectivo das lesões em escolares no período de três anos. O instrumento utilizado foi o Inquérito de Morbidade Referida (IMR). Resultados: Os achados apresentaram diferentes tipos de lesões, sendo a natureza mais frequente a entorse; o segmento corporal mais afetado pelas lesões o tornozelo, e a equipe representativa que apresentou maior prevalência de lesões foi a de basquetebol. Conclusões: Os dados servem como alerta para os professores de Educação Física, visando à diminuição da prevalência de lesões por parte de seus alunos.

Häufigkeit, Art und Verteilung von Schulsportverletzungen an verschiedenen Schulformen

A high percentage of all sports injuries occur during school sports. It was analysed whether there are differences in frequency, nature and distribution of school sport injuries at two different types of schools. School sport injuries of all secondary modern schools (n = 106) and in lower classes of grammar Schools (n = 17) in the federal state of Tyrol, Austria, from the ten school years 2001/02 to 2010/11 were analysed. All physical injuries occurring during school sports and resulting in the consultation of a medical doctor and therefore being reported to the general accident department (Allgemeine Unfallversicherungsanstalt [AUVA]) were assessed. During the evaluation period an average number of 32,935 (±1584) school children attended the two types of schools in Tyrol per year. The average incidence of school sports injuries in this ten-year period in both types of schools was 36.4/1,000 (mean) with a standard deviation of 4.4/1,000 per school child per year. The incidence increased from 30.3 in the school year 2001/02 to 40.4 in the school year 2010/11 (r = 0.91; b = 1.34; p < 0.0001). The incidence of school sport injuries at secondary modern schools (37.4 ± 4.9 per 1,000 school children per year) was higher than at the lower classes of grammar schools (32.9 ± 4.0 per 1,000 school children per year; relative risk 1.138; 95% CI = 1.09-1.19; p = 1.8 × 10-8). In addition, the sports injuries of the school year 2010/11 were analysed in detail and a comparison was made between the two types of schools. The distribution pattern of school sports injuries did not show any significant differences between both school types. At the secondary modern schools, as well as in the lower classes of grammar schools, injuries to the upper extremities prevailed (>50%). Ball sports were responsible for every second injury. Secondary modern school pupils had a significantly higher risk of suffering a school sports injury than pupils in the lower classes of grammar schools. The injury pattern did not show differences between the two types of schools. The consistently higher frequency of injuries at secondary modern schools compared to the lower classes of grammar schools indicates the need for school type-specific accident research and prevention efforts.

Formen, Häufigkeit und Präventionsmöglichkeiten von Ballspielverletzungen im Schulsport. Eine 3-Jahres-Analyse

During the three school years 2008/09 - 2010/11 3090 school sports injuries in all 106 secondary modern schools (Hauptschule) in Tyrol (Austria) were reported to the general accident department (Allgemeine Unfallversicherungsanstalt [AUVA]). 49% of the injuries (n=1526) occurred while playing ball sports, most notably while playing basketball (19%; n=295), football (15%; n=232) and volleyball (12%; n=197). Injuries to the upper extremity are dominant in basketball, volleyball and handball, while most injuries suffered while playing football were clearly localized in the lower extremity. Coordinative deficits as well as excessive demand and inadequate levels of basic skills seem to be the causes of the injuries.

Skilaufverletzungen im Schulsport und Möglichkeiten der Prävention

Tyrol (Austria) is one of the regions which pioneered skiing. Skiing is considered as a national sport and is deeply rooted within the school system. Thus most pupils partake in skiing courses in this period. It is clear that such a large group of pupils also leads to a significant number of skiing injuries. Preventive issues may be derived from an analysis of the pattern and circumstances of skiing injuries. During a period of ten years (2000-2009) 1522 school sports injuries have been reported to the health insurance agency (Allgemeine Unfallversicherungsanstalt) from all secondary schools in Tyrol. The major disciplines were ski (48%, n=734) ice skateing (23%, n=349) and snowboard injuries (21%, n=315), followed by tobogganing (6%, n=91), cross-country skiing (1%, n=17) and other wintersports (1%, n=16). Fractures (31%) dominated in skiing, followed by contusions (23%), and sprains (22%). In the analysis of the distribution of injuries during alpine skiing accidents, lower extremity injuries (39%) dominated followed by upper extremity injuries (34%). Head and spine injuries (13%) were rare. Analysing the circumstances of the injuries, most injuries during skiing occurred without person to person collision (82%), 81% either shortly before lunch-break or in the afternoon. Skiing injuries account for a significant proportion of all school sport-related injuries in Tyrol. Lower extremity injuries account for the vast majority of all injuries. Overestimation and overtiredness may be responsible for skiing sport injuries. Preventive measures such as a fitness training (e.g., skiing exercises) prior to skiing courses, appropriate breaks and proper protective gear (i.e., helmet and spine protector) may reduce the injury rate in skiing school sport.