Injury Complaint Research Articles

Coverage from medical teams and injury/illness epidemiology within youth athletics in Africa: A prospective study during the 2023 African Youth Under 18/20 Athletics Championships

ObjectivesTo describe athletes' coverage by national medical teams, and injuries and illnesses occurring during the four weeks before and during the 2023 African Youth Under 18/20 Athletics Championships. DesignCross-sectional and prospective cohort study design. MethodsWe conducted a study with data collection of: 1) national medical teams, 2) injury and illness complaints during the four weeks preceding the championships using an online pre-participation health questionnaire, and 3) newly incurred in-championship injuries and illnesses collected by national medical teams and the local organising committee using daily standardised online report forms, for all registered athletes at the championships. ResultsAmong the 43 countries participating at the championships, 15 (34.9 %) countries had a medical team with at least one medical personnel. Of the 15 countries, 6 (40.0 %) countries had at least one physiotherapist and one physician, 4 (26.7 %) countries had only physiotherapist(s), and 5 (33.3 %) countries had only physician(s). Nine (60 %) countries participated in the injury surveillance study, including 397 athletes: 61 (15.4 %) completed the pre-participation health questionnaire and 11 athletes (18.0 %) reported an injury complaint and 6 (9.8 %) an illness complaint during the four weeks before the championships. During the championships, there were 52.9 injuries and 50.4 illnesses per 1000 registered athletes. The main injury location was the thigh (33.3 %), and the main injury type was the muscle (47.6 %). The most common system affected by illness was the upper respiratory tract (55.0 %), and the main illness cause was idiopathic (50.0 %). ConclusionsThis preliminary study provides foundational information to improve medical coverage and services during international championships, and orient injury/illness prevention in youth athletics across Africa.

Subjective and objective burden and psychological distress in care partners of older adults with traumatic brain injury.

In care partners of older persons (65 years and older) having sustained traumatic brain injury (TBI), the objectives were (a) to describe subjective burden (emotional, social, financial, and physical burden), objective burden (new roles and responsibilities), and psychological distress at 4 months postinjury, and (b) to explore the predictors of subjective burden and psychological distress. This is an observational study of care partners of older adults with TBI (n = 46; Mage = 65.2 years, SD = 11.2, 87% female). Participants completed the Zarit Burden Interview, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Brain Injury Complaint Questionnaire (measuring difficulties of the injured older adult perceived by the care partner), and the modified Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. A majority of care partners (88%) reported at least one form of objective burden (e.g., increased/decreased time spent in certain activities post-TBI), 29% perceived at least mild subjective burden, and 27% reported either significant anxiety or depressive symptoms. Linear regressions indicated that a higher number of difficulties reported regarding the injured person and poorer perceived social support predicted higher subjective burden and psychological distress. A younger age of the care partner also predicted a higher subjective burden. This study provides a better understanding of the potential impacts of TBI in older age for care partners. Future research should examine how to support adequately care partners in their psychological adaptation after TBI in an elderly person. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Epidemiology of Injury Complaints in Elite Sprinting Athletes in Athletics (Track and Field)

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of injury complaints related to the athletics activity in elite athletics (track and field) athletes practicing disciplines with sprints (i.e., sprints, hurdles, combined events, long jump, and triple jump). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on elite sprinting athletes licensed with the French Federation of Athletics with retrospective data collection of injury complaints related to the athletics activity that occurred during their lifetime athletics activity, allowing the reporting of the injury complaints during the one-year period before the survey and at the time of the survey, using a self-reported online survey system. We calculated the (i) lifetime, (ii) 1 year, and (iii) point (at the time of the survey) prevalence proportion, and we descriptively analyzed the injury complaint characteristics. Results: A total of 302 injury complaints related to the athletics activity were reported by 64 athletes of the 68 included athletes. The lifetime prevalence proportion was 95.6% (95% CI: 90.7 to 100.5%). The 1-year prevalence proportion was 61.8% (95% CI: 50.2 to 73.3%). The point prevalence proportion (at the time of the survey) was 16.2% (95% CI: 7.4 to 24.9%). Almost all injury complaints were located in the lower limb (92.7%) and especially involved the hamstrings (33.4%); the main type involved was the muscle (49.0%), and injury complaints mainly occurred during training and with a sudden mode of onset. The most frequent diagnosis was hamstring muscle injury (31.1%). Conclusions: This study provides new insights specifically in elite sprinting athletes, confirming the injury risk in this population and that the main injury diagnosis was the hamstring muscle injury. Efforts should thus continue to monitor injuries in this population and to develop athletics- and sprinting-specific injury risk reduction strategies.

Relationship of cervical soft tissue injury and surgical predication following pediatric cervical spinal trauma and its sequelae on long-term neurologic outcome

Within the sample of 181 patients with cervical CT, CT identified unstable injury with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 95%. CT identified operable injury at the CCJ with 86% sensitivity and 91% specificity. CT was considered the gold standard for identification of fractures. Together, the presence of CT imaging suggestive of unstable injury or persistent neurologic complaint had a 100% sensitivity and 81% specificity. Finally, across all patients MRI had 100% sensitivity and 89% specificity for detection of unstable injury requiring surgery.

Relationship between a daily injury risk estimation feedback (I-REF) based on machine learning techniques and actual injury risk in athletics (track and field): protocol for a prospective cohort study over an athletics season

IntroductionTwo-thirds of athletes (65%) have at least one injury complaint leading to participation restriction (ICPR) in athletics (track and field) during one season. The emerging practice of medicine and public...

Pre-participation injury and illness complaints of elite athletes participating at the Munich 2022 European Championships

Objective: To describe the injury and illness complaints of elite athletes during the four weeks before the 2022 European championships in Munich (Germany). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in athletes registered at the 2022 European championships from the 11th to the 21st August 2022, using an online pre-participation health questionnaire (PPHQ) asking about personal and training characteristics and injury and illness complaints during the four weeks preceding the championships. Results: Among the 5419 registered athletes, 239 (4.4%) completed the PPHQ. A total of 47 athletes (19.7%) reported an injury complaint during the four weeks before the championships. The most frequently reported worst symptom was pain (59.6%), location was “upper extremity” (19.1%), followed by “posterior thigh” (12.8%) and “head/trunk” (12.8%). The mean injury severity score (ranging from 0 to 100) was 39.4±20.2. About two-thirds of athletes reported performance not or only slightly affected by the injury complaint. Twenty-five athletes (10.5%) reported an illness complaint prior to the championships. The most frequently reported affected system was “respiratory tract” (52.0%), cause was infection (64.0%), and the mean illness severity score was 35.5±17.7. 80% of athletes reported that the performance was not or only slightly affected by the illness complaint. Conclusion: About 20% of included athletes reported an injury complaint and about 10% an illness complaint during the four weeks before the 2022 European championships. These results highlight the need of improving the monitoring and if needed, the management of athletes’ health, in the final preparation for international championships.

Having an injury complaint during the four weeks before an international athletics ('track and field') championship more than doubles the risk of sustaining an injury during the respective championship: a cohort study on 1095 athletes during 7 international championships.

To analyse the association between pre-participation health status and in-championships injuries in a large dataset from seven international athletics championships, and to determine the health status of athletes during the four weeks before the start of international athletics championships. Prospective cohort study. We used data collected from athletes of national teams with medical staff who participated i) in a pre-participation health survey (retrospective data collection) and ii) in an in-championships injury surveillance (prospective data collection) during seven international athletics championships (2013-2018). We performed a binomial logistic regression with in-championship injury (yes/no) as the dependent variable and sex, age, discipline (explosive/endurance), type of championships (outdoor/indoor) and pre-participation injury complaint (yes/no) and pre-participation illness complaint (yes/no) as independent variables, with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Out of the 1095 athletes included 31.2% reported an injury complaint during the 4 weeks before the championships and 21.6% an illness complaint. The univariate model showed that discipline, type of championships and pre-participation injury complaints (OR = 2.57, 95%CI: 1.66 to 3.97) were significantly associated with in-championships injuries, and the multivariable model showed that type of championships and pre-participation injury complaints (OR = 2.64, 95%CI: 1.60 to 4.36) remained significantly associated with in-championships injuries. Our present study shows that an injury complaint during the four weeks before an international athletics championship significantly increased risk of sustaining an injury during the following championship, which was reported by about one third of athletes with differences between sex and disciplines.

One-season epidemiology of injury complaints in athletics (track and field)

Problem: Injuries in athletics are common and may lead to restrictions in athletics participation and performance. We thus aimed to describe the epidemiology (prevalence, incidence, burden, characteristics) of injuries self-reported by the athletes (“injury complaint leading to participation restriction” (ICPR)) in athletics athletes) over one athletics season. Methods: For this study, we used data from the “PREVATHLE” randomized controlled trial and only from athletes of the control group who provided 100% of the weekly responses. On a weekly basis, we collected individual information via a questionnaire on the preceding week: number of hours of training and competition, and any ICPR (circumstance, mode of onset and location). The primary outcome was ICPR. Results: Overall, full data sets were available for 100 athletes. One hundred twenty-seven ICPR were reported from 65 athletes over the season, corresponding to a prevalence rate of 65 ICPR per 100 athletes (95%CI: 55.7-74.3). The incidence rate was 8.3 ICPR per 1000h (95%CI: 6.9-9.7), the overall injury burden was 285.6 (SD=619.6) days with an ICPR per 1000h, and the time before the first ICPR was 12.4 (SD=10.4) weeks. Most acute injuries occurred at the ankle (9.4%), while most overuse injuries occurred at the lower leg (15.0%). Conclusion: This present epidemiological study describes in detail the epidemiology of ICPR in athletics athletes over one whole athletics season, representing an additional piece to better understand the extent of injury problem in athletics. Key Words: Musculoskeletal Pathologies, Prevention, Monitoring

Effect of an Unsupervised Exercises-Based Athletics Injury Prevention Programme on Injury Complaints Leading to Participation Restriction in Athletics: A Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial.

Objective: To test the efficacy of the Athletics Injury Prevention Programme (AIPP) to reduce the percentage of athletes presenting at least one injury complaint leading to participation restriction (ICPR) over an athletics season. Methods: During the 2017–2018 athletics season, we included in this cluster randomised controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03307434) 840 athletes randomly assigned (randomisation unit: athletic clubs) to a control group (regular training) or to an intervention group (regular training plus the AIPP 2/week). Using a weekly online questionnaire, athletes reported the ICPR, training and competition exposures, and, for the intervention group, the compliance with the AIPP. The primary outcome was the percentage of athletes presenting at least one ICPR over the study follow-up. Results: A total of 449 and 391 athletes were included in the intervention and control groups, respectively. From them, 68 (15.1%) and 100 (25.6%) athletes, respectively, provided 100% of the requested information during the follow-up (39 weeks). A total of 6 (8.8%) performed the AIPP 2/week or more. The proportion of athletes who had at least one ICPR over the follow-up period was similar in the intervention (64.7%) and control groups (65.0%), with adjusted odds ratios: 0.81 (95% CI 0.36 to 1.85). There were no between-group differences when comparing separately the subgroups corresponding with the different compliance levels. Conclusion: This cluster randomised controlled trial reported no efficacy of the AIPP. However, the overall response proportion and the compliance with the AIPP in the intervention group were low. In individual sports especially, efforts should be first made to improve the implementation and adoption of interventions.

The Athletics Injury Prevention Programme Can Help to Reduce the Occurrence at Short Term of Participation Restriction Injury Complaints in Athletics: A Prospective Cohort Study.

We aimed to determine whether an Athletics Injury Prevention Programme (AIPP), targeting the most common athletics injuries, can reduce the occurrence of injury complaints that lead to restrictions in athletics participation (participation restriction injury complaints) in the short (12 weeks) and long (40 weeks) terms. For our 40-week prospective cohort study (level of evidence 2), we invited inter-regional and national-level athletes to regularly perform the AIPP, which included 8 exercises addressing core stability, hamstring, leg and pelvic muscles strengthening and stretching, and balance exercises. A Cox regression was used to analyse the influence of AIPP on the occurrence of participation restriction injury complaint, adjusted to sex, age, height, body mass, discipline, and history of injury complaints during the preceding season, individual response rate, mean weekly training time, mean weekly number of competition, presented by hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). At 12 weeks (n = 62 athletes), the AIPP was significantly associated with a lower risk of participation restriction injury complaint HR = 0.36 (95% CI: 0.15 to 0.86), p = 0.02 and HR = 0.29 (95% CI: 0.12 to 0.73), p = 0.009, with cumulative weeks and cumulative training time as time scale, respectively, while at 40 weeks (n = 53 athletes) there was no significant association. An 8-exercise injury prevention programme can effectively help to reduce occurrence of injury complaints that would restrict an athlete’s participation in athletics in the short term.

Health complaints and heat stress prevention strategies during taper as predictors of peaked athletic performance at the 2015 World Athletics Championship in hot conditions

ObjectivesTo investigate whether self-reported health complaints and choice of heat stress prevention strategies during the taper predicted peaking at an athletics championship in hot conditions. DesignCohort study. MethodsData on health and heat stress prevention were collected before the 2015 World Athletics Championship in Beijing, China. Peaking was defined using the athlete’s pre-competition ranking and final competition rank. Baseline and endpoint data were fitted into multiple logic regression models. ResultsTwo hundred forty-five (29%) of 841 eligible athletes participated. Both sprint/power (Odds ratio (OR) 0.33 (95% Confidence interval (CI) 0.11 to 0.94), P=0.038) and endurance/combined events (OR 0.38 (95% CI 0.14 to 1.00), P=0.049) athletes having sustained concern-causing health complaints during the taper were less likely to peak. Endurance/combined events athletes who chose pre-cooling to mitigate heat stress were less likely to peak (OR 0.35 (95% CI 0.15 to 0.80), P=0.013), while sprint/power athletes reporting a sudden-onset injury complaint during the taper displayed increased peaking (OR 4.47 (95% CI 1.28 to 15.59), P=0.019). ConclusionsHealth complaints that caused the athlete concern during the taper were predictive of failure to peak at a major athletics competition. Sprint/power athletes who experienced an acute injury symptom during the taper appeared to benefit from rest. Pre-cooling strategies seem to require further validation during real-world endurance/combined events. It appears that athletics athletes’ self-reported health should be monitored during the taper, concerns addressed, and heat stress prevention strategies individually tested before championships in hot conditions.

Neuropsychological assessment of a long-term (LT) outcome after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Neuropsychological assessment of a LT outcome after severe TBI, in correlation with daily life disability. Severe TBI patients admitted in the Intensive Care Unit in Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital (France) from 2005 to 2012 were included. MRI, clinical PRM and neuropsychological assessments were performed. Neuropsychological performances were measured by 10 composite scores (CS) representing the main cognitive functions. The Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE) assessed the global functional outcome. Use of self and relatives’ assessment questionnaires allowed evaluation of cognitive complaints in everyday life (Dysexecutive questionnaire–DEX; Working Memory Questionnaire - WMQ; Brain Injury Complaint Questionnaire - BICoQ). 101 patients (84.16% men; mean age 38.55 ± 16.03 [19–73]) were included. They presented with initial severity of TBI: GSC median ± 3.6 [3–15]; coma duration 19.01 days ± 18.22 [0–120]; PTA duration 97.8% > 1 day. Assessments were performed at a mean delay of 5 years and 2 months after BI. This cohort had a mean moderate disability according to GOSE (Median ± 1.32 [3–8]). Neuropsychological evaluation emphasized high prevalence of different cognitive deficits: attention (sustained attention deficit in 63.04% of subjects, tonic alertness 24.75%, divided attention 43.56%), executive functions (EF) (planning 55.56%, mental flexibility 24.75%, generation of new information 20.79%), working memory (WM) (46%) and update (46.88%), anterograde episodic memory (AEM) (46%). Surprisingly inhibition was not noticeable in this cohort (1%). GOSE was significantly related to EF, WM (0.0047*), AEM (< 0.0001*), Tonic alertness (< 0.0001*), divided attention (0.0012*) and to relatives’ complaints questionnaire (DEX & BICoQ < 0.0001*). Moreover, several CS (AEM, fluency…) were significantly associated with the relatives’ complaints in the BICoQ. Five years after TBI, patients and their relatives are still affected by cognitive disorders. Relatives complaints are clearly informative of participation restrictions. This study emphasizes the importance of LT assessment and follow up in TBI patients and their relatives.

Work-related acute physical injuries, chronic overuse complaints, and the psychosocial work environment in Danish primary care chiropractic practice \u2013 a cross-sectional study

BackgroundLittle is known about the physical and psychosocial work environment of chiropractors and their work-related health complaints, and this has never been described for Danish chiropractors. The aim of this study was, therefore, to describe work-related acute physical injuries, overuse complaints, and psychosocial stress in Danish chiropractic work settings.MethodsWe developed a questionnaire specifically for this study and distributed it electronically in August 2016 using SurveyXact to all 575 members of the Danish Chiropractors’ Association working in primary care clinics. Chiropractors were asked about their work-related acute physical injuries and overuse complaints as well as any psychosocial stress they experienced at work during the previous year. We described our sample and variables using means, medians, ranges, and confidence intervals where appropriate. Statistically significant differences between genders, types of complaints and injuries, and between clinic owners and associates were examined using Chi-square and Fischer’s exact tests, where appropriate, or by examining confidence intervals for non-overlap.Results355 (65.2%) chiropractors answered the survey. Of these, 216 (61%, 95% CI 56–66) had experienced a work-related acute physical injury and/or overuse complaint during the previous year. Work-related overuse complaints were most commonly reported in the low back, wrist, thumb, and shoulder, and were more common among women (63%, 95% CI 56–70) than men (51%, 95% CI 43–59). Chiropractors with more than five years in practice (59%, 95% CI 52–64) reported significantly fewer work-related acute injuries and overuse complaints during the previous year compared with chiropractors with less than five years in practice (83%, 95% CI 73–91). In general, these practicing Danish chiropractors reported having a good psychosocial work environment, and 90% of chiropractors “always” or “often” felt that they were motivated and committed to their work.ConclusionThis sample of Danish practicing chiropractors commonly reported work-related acute physical injuries or overuse complaints. Overuse complaints were most commonly reported in the low back, wrist, thumb, and shoulder and were more common among women than men. Newly educated chiropractors reported more overuse complaints than experienced chiropractors. Collectively, this sample of Danish chiropractors reported that they had a good psychosocial work environment.

Self-awareness four years after severe traumatic brain injury: discordance between the patient’s and relative’s complaints. Results from the PariS-TBI study

Objective: To evaluate the patient’s awareness of his or her difficulties in the chronic phase of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to determine the factors related to poor awareness. Design/Setting/Subjects: This study was part of a larger prospective inception cohort study of patients with severe TBI in the Parisian region (PariS-TBI study). Intervention/Main measures: Evaluation was carried out at four years and included the Brain Injury Complaint Questionnaire (BICoQ) completed by the patient and his or her relative as well as the evaluation of impairments, disability and quality of life. Results: A total of 90 patient-relative pairs were included. Lack of awareness was measured using the unawareness index that corresponded to the number of discordant results between the patient and relative in the direction of under evaluation of difficulties by the patient. The only significant relationship found with lack of awareness was the subjective burden perceived by the relative (Zarit Burden Inventory) (r = 0.5; P < 0.00001). There was no significant relationship between lack of awareness and injury severity, pre-injury socio-demographic data, cognitive impairments, mood disorders, functional independence (Barthel index), global disability (Glasgow Outcome Scale), return to work at four years or quality of life (Quality Of Life after Brain Injury scale (QOLIBRI)). Conclusion: Lack of awareness four years post severe TBI was not related to the severity of the initial trauma, sociodemographic data, the severity of impairments, limitations of activity and participation, or the patient’s quality of life. However, poor awareness did significantly influence the weight of the burden perceived by the relative.

Subjective complaints after acquired brain injury: presentation of the Brain Injury Complaint Questionnaire (BICoQ).

The objective of the present study was to present a new complaint questionnaire designed to assess a wide range of difficulties commonly reported by patients with acquired brain injury. Patients (n = 619) had been referred to a community re-entry service at a chronic stage after brain injury, mainly traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Brain Injury Complaint Questionnaire (BICoQ) includes 25 questions in the following domains: cognition, behavior, fatigue and sleep, mood, and somatic problems. A self and a proxy questionnaire were given. An additional question was given to the relative, about the patient's awareness of his difficulties. The questionnaires had a good internal coherence, as measured with Cronbach's alpha. The most frequent complaints were, in decreasing order, mental slowness, memory troubles, fatigue, concentration difficulties, anxiety, and dual tasking problems. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation yielded six underlying factors explaining 50.5% of total variance: somatic concerns, cognition, and lack of drive, lack of control, psycholinguistic disorders, mood, and mental fatigue/slowness. About 52% of patients reported fewer complaints than their proxy, suggesting lack of awareness. The total complaint scores were not significantly correlated with any injury severity measure, but were significantly correlated with disability and poorer quality of life (Note: only factor 2 [cognition/lack of drive] was significantly related to disability.) The BICoQ is a simple scale that can be used in addition to traditional clinical and cognitive assessment measures, and to assess awareness of everyday life problems.

WHAT PRE-PARTICIPATION HEALTH COMPLAINTS AND ATHLETE CHARACTERISTICS PREDICT INJURY AND ILLNESS AT MAJOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS? COHORT STUDY AT THE BEIJING 2015 IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

BackgroundDuring the month before world championships in individual sports, about one-third of athletes are disturbed by injury complaints. Athletics athletes reporting a pre-championship gradual-onset injury complaint are known to be...

An injury prevention program is able to reduce the number of injury complaints at medium-term in athletics

The incidence of injuries in athletics is important, with consequences at short and long terms in sport, health, social and professional levels. It is therefore important to define strategies to reduce the incidence and severity of injuries in athletics. The objective of this study was to determine whether an injury prevention program (IPP) can reduce the occurrence and/or severity of injuries related to the practice of athletics. The IPP has been developed, based on current scientific knowledge, targeting exercises on the most common injuries in athletics (hamstring muscle injury, Achilles and patellar tendinopathy, low back pain, ankle sprain) and selecting exercises known to treat and/or prevent these injuries (care stability, hamstrings and leg eccentric muscle strengthening, pelvis balance and stabilizing work). IPP takes about 15 minutes, 2 to 3 times per week, with progression levels. During the 2014–2015 athletic season, the IPP has been proposed in an athletic population, youth to senior at competition level and training at least 3 times a week, in who training loads, IPP compliance and injury complaints were collected. To date, 34 athletes were included and achieved 16 weeks of training including IPP. There was a significant correlation between the average number of IPP per week and number of weeks with an injury complaint ( r = −0.415; P = 0.02). The comparison between athletes who achieved the IPP least once a week and those having realized at least once a week found a significant difference in the number of weeks with an injury complaint (3.4 ± 1 3 vs. 1.3 ± 2.4, respectively, P = 0.04). The survival curve of the two groups showed a protective effect of IPP on the occurrence of an injury ( P = 0.05). These preliminary results were encouraging and reported that a suitable program, developed on a scientific basis and regularly performed, allowing a protective effect of the medium-term injury (of 4 months of training).

An injury complaints in the months before the championships is a risk factor for injury during athletics championships

During international athletics championships, the incidence and characteristics of new injuries have been well described: about 10% of registered athletes have a new injury. It seemed also important to understand the complaints of athletes in terms of injuries in the period before and at the start of the championships and potential association with potential new injuries for identification of possible risk factors. The objective of this study was to determine the health of athletes before the start of an international athletics championship and to identify risk factors for new injuries. In the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow, all athletes enrolled ( n = 1784) were asked to complete a pre-participation health questionnaire (PHQ) collecting data on the health status during the months preceding the championships. During the period of the Championships, all new injuries were prospectively recorded. The PHQ was completed by 698 (39%) of the athletes; 204 (29.2%) reported suffering such injury complaint during the month before the championships. The most common mode of onset of pain before championships was gradual (43.6%). Forty-nine athletes reported at least one new injury during the championships. Athletes who reported suffering injuries before championships had an increased risk of having a new injury during the championship [odds ratio (OR) = 2.09; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.16–3.77; P = 0.014] and those who reported suffering injuries championships before a gradual fashion appearance were at increased risk of almost four times to re-injury with sport stop in the championship (OR = 3.92; 95% CI: 1.69–9.08; P = 0.001). Approximately one third of athletes participating in an international athletics championship and involved in this study reported an injury complaint during the month before the championships. This represented a risk factor to suffer a new injury during the championship. This study highlights the potential importance of a pre-participation health questionnaire as a screening tool to identify athletes at risk of injury before international athletics championships.

Preparticipation injury complaint is a risk factor for injury: a prospective study of the Moscow 2013 IAAF Championships

Objectives To determine the health status of athletes before the start of an international athletics championship and to determine whether preparticipation risk factors predicted in-championship injuries. Methods At the beginning...

Screening for violence risk factors identifies young adults at risk for return emergency department visit for injury.

Introduction:Homicide is the second leading cause of death among youth aged 15–24. Prior cross-sectional studies, in non-healthcare settings, have reported exposure to community violence, peer behavior, and delinquency as risk factors for violent injury. However, longitudinal cohort studies have not been performed to evaluate the temporal or predictive relationship between these risk factors and emergency department (ED) visits for injuries among at-risk youth. The objective was to assess whether self-reported exposure to violence risk factors in young adults can be used to predict future ED visits for injuries over a 1-year period.Methods:This prospective cohort study was performed in the ED of a Southeastern US Level I trauma center. Eligible participants were patients aged 18–24, presenting for any chief complaint. We excluded patients if they were critically ill, incarcerated, or could not read English. Initial recruitment occurred over a 6-month period, by a research assistant in the ED for 3–5 days per week, with shifts scheduled such that they included weekends and weekdays, over the hours from 8AM-8PM. At the time of initial contact in the ED, patients were asked to complete a written questionnaire, consisting of previously validated instruments measuring the following risk factors: a) aggression, b) perceived likelihood of violence, c) recent violent behavior, d) peer behavior, e) community exposure to violence, and f) positive future outlook. At 12 months following the initial ED visit, the participants' medical records were reviewed to identify any subsequent ED visits for injury-related complaints. We analyzed data with chi-square and logistic regression analyses.Results:Three hundred thirty-two patients were approached, of whom 300 patients consented. Participants' average age was 21.1 years, with 60.1% female, 86.0% African American. After controlling for participant gender, ethnicity, or injury complaint at time of first visit, return visits for injuries were significantly associated with: hostile/aggressive feelings (Odds ratio (OR) 3.5, 95% Confidence interval (CI): 1.3, 9.8), self-reported perceived likelihood of violence (OR 10.1, 95% CI: 2.5, 40.6), and peer group violence (OR 6.7, 95% CI: 2.0, 22.3).Conclusion:A brief survey of risk factors for violence is predictive of increased probability of a return visit to the ED for injury. These findings identify a potentially important tool for primary prevention of violent injuries among at-risk youth seen in the ED for trauma-related and non-traumatic complaints.