Risk Of Sports-related Injuries Research Articles

Lessons from the Winter Paralympic Games disclosing the epidemiology of winter sports injury in paralytic athletes: a meta-analysis

BackgroundIn this study, the incidence rate of the injury in Winter Paralympic Games was summarized. Besides, to testify the underlying factors of injury incidence heterogeneity, the difference of these events incidence between different Paralympic Winter Games was investigated by meta regression analysis.MethodsElectronic databases were searched for full-text publications on sports related injury in Winter Paralympic Games. And meta-regression was used to analyze the heterogeneity.ResultsFour studies were included. The incidence of sports related injury was 0.21 (95% CI 0.15–0.31) in all items, 0.22 in female athletes (95% CI 0.12–0.32), and 0.21 in male athletes (95% CI 0.11–0.30), respectively. The incidence of sports related injury was 0.10 (95% CI 0.08–0.12) in alpine skiing, 0.01 (95% CI 0–0.02) in Nordic skiing, and 0.22 in sledge hockey (95% CI 0.05–0.40). Meta-regression suggested the year and the host country couldn’t influence the injury incidence.ConclusionThe present study summarized the incidence of sports related injury in Winter Paralympic Games, indicated similar injury risk between female athletes and male athletes, and accentuated the careful protection on sledge hockey. This study pointed out that sledge hockey with the highest risk of sports related injury should draw great attention to improve the corresponding protective measures to decrease its injury probability.

Return to play in children with shunted hydrocephalus.

The objective of this study was to assess the relevance of shunted hydrocephalus in regard to participation by young patients in physical education (PE) classes. Students diagnosed with this condition are very often restricted in PE classes owing to the lack of official and well-defined guidelines. However, the medical literature suggests that there is no relationship between the disease and risk of sport-related injuries. In this study, the authors intended to evaluate not only the accuracy of this statement, but also to explore the factors that delay or foreclose return to exercise. The analysis was conducted on patients aged < 18 years with a diagnosis of shunt-treated hydrocephalus who received follow-up for a minimum of 1 year. Collected medical data were examined for factors limiting participation in PE at school. Indicators of both sport-related injuries and conditions acceptable for return to exercise were gathered during follow-up visits. In this study, 72.72% of patients attended sport activities in schools. The group based on return to PE class differed significantly in the occurrence of neurological deficits, as well as presence of comorbidities. In univariate analysis, the authors identified these parameters as risk factors limiting participation in PE. On the contrary, etiology of hydrocephalus, type of shunting device, number of shunt malfunctions, and presence of epilepsy did not significantly influence sport engagement. This study shows that many patients with shunt-treated hydrocephalus can safely participate in PE. Presence of neurological deficits before and after neurosurgical treatment, as well as presence of comorbidities, are factors that negatively impact the possibility of a patient returning to physical activity. Sport-related injuries do occur, but at a low incidence.

Active Kinesitherapy As A Leading Treatment For Impingement Syndrome Of The Shoulder Joint In Sports Traumatology

Man’s striving for a longer and fuller functional life is associated with the practice of various sports as well as the increase of sports achievements beyond normal possibilities and the achievement of higher goals and results. This naturally leads to an increase in the risk of sport-related injuries. Along with them, the risk of overload-related diseases of the musculoskeletal system increases. As a result, the requirements for sports medicine, and in particular sports orthopedics, and traumatology are exceedingly high due to the need for rapid and complete recovery of the diseased or injured structures. One of the most common diseases in sports, affecting the structures in the shoulder joint, is the so-called impingement syndrome of the shoulder joint or “rotator cuff” disease. It is a dystrophic-degenerative, microtraumatic disease of the soft tissues around the shoulder joint and is most common is sports such as volleyball, handball, gymnastics, acrobatics, wres-tling, sambo, swimming, and sports in which the same movements are performed with the up-per limbs. When it comes to athletes, the pain reduces the possibility of intense and complete training. The technique of performing the sports elements deteriorates and the sports achieve-ments decrease. Active physiotherapy combined with other physical means has emerged in recent years as a leading, innovative, and individual treatment for athletes, achieving a significant reduction in recovery time, faster return to competing, prevention of complications and im-provement of the quality of life.

Accuracy of US College Football Players’ Estimates of Their Risk of Concussion or Injury

Despite increased concern about the health consequences of contact sports, little is known about athletes' understanding of their own risk of sports-related injury. To assess whether college football players accurately estimate their risk of concussion and nonconcussion injury and to identify characteristics of athletes who misestimate their injury risk. In this survey study, questionnaires were given to 296 current college football players on 4 teams from the 3 of the 5 most competitive conferences of the US National Collegiate Athletic Association. Surveys were conducted between February and May 2017. Data were analyzed from June 2017 through July 2020. Multiple approaches were taken to compare athlete perceptions of their risks of concussion and nonconcussion injury with individual probabilities of these risks, which were modeled using logistic regression. Of 296 male college-aged athletes from 4 football teams who participated in the survey, 265 (89%) answered all questions relevant for this study. Participating teams were similar to nonparticipating teams across nearly all measured characteristics. One hundred athletes (34%) had sustained 1 or more concussions, and 197 (68% of the 289 who responded to the question) had sustained 1 or more injuries in the previous football season. Logistic regression models of single-season injury and concussion had reasonably good fit (area under the curve, 0.75 and 0.73, respectively). Of the 265 participants for whom all relevant data were available, 111 (42%) underestimated their risk of concussion (χ2 = 98.6; P = .003). A similar proportion of athletes (113 [43%]) underestimated their risk of injury, although this was not statistically significant (χ2 = 34.0; P = .09). An alternative analytic strategy suggested that 241 athletes (91%) underestimated their risk of injury (Wilcoxon statistic, 7865; P < .001) and 167 (63%) underestimated their risk of concussion (Wilcoxon statistic, 26 768; P < .001). The findings of this survey study suggest that college football players may underestimate their risk of injury and concussion. The implications for informed participation in sport are unclear given that people generally underestimate health risks. It is necessary to consider whether athletes are sufficiently informed and how much risk is acceptable for an athlete to participate in a sport.

Mouthguard Thermoforming Method to Decrease Palatal Thickness While Maintaining Labial and Buccal Thickness

Wearing a mouthguard reduces the risk of sports-related injuries, but a more comfortable design is required in order to increase the wearing rate. The aim of this study was to investigate a thermoforming method that decreases palatal thickness while maintaining labial and buccal thickness. Mouthguards were fabricated from an ethylene-vinyl acetate sheet (thickness: 4.0 mm) by using a vacuum forming machine. Four working models were prepared: 1) the anterior height was 25-mm and the posterior height was 20-mm (model A), 2) model A with the palate trimmed (model B), 3) heights 5 mm greater than model A (model C), and 4) model C with the palate trimmed (model D). The two forming conditions were as follows: 1) The sheet was formed when it sagged 15 mm below the level of the sheet frame at the top of the post under ordinary use (control); 2) The sheet frame at the top of the post was lowered and the sheet covered the model when it sagged by 15 mm. The rear side of the model was pushed to move the model forward 20 mm, and then the sheet was formed (MP). Differences in mouthguard thickness due to forming conditions and model forms were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni’s multiple comparison tests. Difference in forming conditions was similar for all model forms; for the MP, the thickness of the incisal edge, labial surface, cusp and buccal surface were greater, and the palatal surface was thinner than the control. On the labial and buccal surface, the thickness difference due to the model form was observed only for the MP, and models A and B were thicker than models C and D. The palatal thickness tended to be thin in the models with the trimmed palate. This study suggested that the labial and buccal thickness of the mouthguard can be maintained, and the palatal thickness can be decreased by using the model with the palate trimmed with the forming method in which the model position is moved forward immediately before the vacuum formation.

Influence of Continuous Use of a Vacuum-Forming Machine for Mouthguard Thickness after Thermoforming: Effect of the Time Interval between Repeat Moldings

Mouthguards can reduce the risk of sports-related injuries, but the sheet material and thickness have a large effect on their efficacy and safety. This study was intended to predict the changes in thickness of molded products by clarifying the effect of the time interval between repeat moldings during the continuous use of a vacuum-forming machine. Ethylene vinyl acetate mouthguard sheets were used for thermoforming with a vacuum-forming machine. The working model was trimmed to a height of 23 mm at the maxillary central incisor and 20 mm at maxillary first molar. Five molding conditions were investigated: 1) molding was carried out after the sag at the center of the softened sheet was 15 mm (control); 2) sheet heating was started 5 min after the molding of the control (AF5-Re1); 3) sheet heating started 5 min after the molding of AF5-Re1 (AF5-Re2); 4) sheet heating started 10 min after the molding of the control (AF10-Re1); and 5) sheet heating started 10 min after the molding of AF10-Re1 (AF10-Re2). Sheet thickness after fabrication was determined for the incisal edge, labial surface, cusp, and buccal surface using a special caliper accurate to 0.1 mm. Thickness differences of the molding conditions were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance. Significant differences between the control and AF5-Re1 were observed at all measurement points (p < 0.01), but not between the control and AF10-Re1. AF10-Re2 became thinner than AF10-Re1 (p < 0.01). Reproducible molding results were obtained by waiting 10 min between the first and second moldings, but the third molded mouthguard was significantly thinner, despite this 10 min wait interval.

An eHealth Application of Self-Reported Sports-Related Injuries and Illnesses in Paralympic Sport: Pilot Feasibility and Usability Study.

BackgroundSport participation is associated with a risk of sports-related injuries and illnesses, and Paralympic athletes’ additional medical issues can be a challenge to health care providers and medical staff. However, few prospective studies have assessed sports-related injuries and illnesses in Paralympic sport (SRIIPS) over time. Advances in mobile phone technology and networking systems offer novel opportunities to develop innovative eHealth applications for collection of athletes’ self-reports. Using eHealth applications for collection of self-reported SRIIPS is an unexplored area, and before initiation of full-scale research of SRIIPS, the feasibility and usability of such an approach needs to be ascertained.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to perform a 4-week pilot study and (1) evaluate the monitoring feasibility and system usability of a novel eHealth application for self-reported SRIIPS and (2) report preliminary data on SRIIPS.MethodsAn eHealth application for routine collection of data from athletes was developed and adapted to Paralympic athletes. A 4-week pilot study was performed where Paralympic athletes (n=28) were asked to weekly self-report sport exposure, training load, general well-being, pain, sleep, anxiety, and possible SRIIPS. The data collection was followed by a poststudy use assessment survey. Quantitative data related to the system use (eg, completed self-reports, missing responses, and errors) were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The qualitative feasibility and usability data provided by the athletes were condensed and categorized using thematic analysis methods.ResultsThe weekly response rate was 95%. The athletes were of the opinion that the eHealth application was usable and feasible but stated that it was not fully adapted to Paralympic athletes and their impairments. For example, it was difficult to understand how a new injury or illness should be identified when the impairment was involved. More survey items related to the impairments were requested, as the athletes perceived that injuries and illnesses often occurred because of the impairment. Options for description of multifactorial incidents including an injury, an illness, and the impairment were also insufficient. Few technical issues were encountered, but athletes with visual impairment reported usability difficulties with the speech synthesizer. An incidence rate of 1.8 injuries and 1.7 illnesses per 100 hours of athlete exposure were recorded. The weekly pain prevalence was 56% and the impairment contributed to 20% of the reported incidents.ConclusionsThe novel eHealth-based application for self-reported SRIIPS developed and tested in this pilot study was generally feasible and usable. With some adaptation to accommodate Paralympic athletes’ prerequisites and improved technical support for athletes with visual impairment, this application can be recommended for use in prospective studies of SRIIPS.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02788500; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02788500 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6v56OqTeP)

Do adolescents with long-term illnesses and disabilities have increased risks of sports related injuries?

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to examine the rates of sports related injuries in adolescents based on the severity of their long-term illnesses or disabilities (LTID). Few injury prevention strategies in sports and health promotion have explored disaggregation by disability.MethodsData obtained from the 2014 Finnish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey (n = 3716, mean age = 14.8, SD = 1.03) were grouped into adolescents with and without LTID. A further indicator or severity was determined when adolescents reported their LTID affected their participation (affected LTID). Odds ratio (95% CI) were used to determine the associations between sports related injuries and LTID, daily moderate to vigorous physical activities (MVPA), being a sports club member, physical competence, and family encouragement, after controlling for age, gender and family affluence.ResultsOne in four adolescents (25%) reported to have LTID and one in eight adolescents (12.5%) reported sports injuries. The odds for adolescents with chronic conditions, functional and learning difficulties was the highest (OR 3.55, CI = 2.3–5.4) for overall injuries, when compared with adolescents without LTID. Adolescents with affected LTID (OR = 2.08, CI = 1.5–2.9) were more likely to report medically attended injuries than adolescents without LTID. Sports-related injuries (OR = 0.33, CI = 0.1–0.8) were lower in adolescents with affected LTID than those without LTID after adjusting for personal and environmental factors.ConclusionsTaking part in sport clubs increases the risk of sports related injuries in adolescents with and without LTID, but not with affected LTID. Few adolescents with affected LTID participate in sports clubs and were less likely to report the most serious type of injury to be from sports. These results could be used for devising sports based injury prevention and health promotion strategies for children with LTID.

The Adolescent Athlete: A Developmental Approach to Injury Risk.

With the advent of long-term athlete development programs and early sport specialization, the training of elite athletes now spans the period of adolescence. Adolescence represents a period of physical, psychosocial and cognitive development, but also a time of physical and psychological vulnerability. Changes in skeletal and physiological attributes coincide with an increased risk of sport related injury. A window of vulnerability is shaped by the properties of the musculoskeletal system, the influence of pubertal hormones and the lag time between physical and cognitive development. This article aims to challenge the assumption of adolescence as a time of increased vigor alone, by highlighting the presence of specific vulnerabilities, and proposing that the hormonal, musculoskeletal, and neurocognitive changes of adolescence may represent intrinsic risk factors for sport related injury.

Physical Activity and Sport in Advanced Age: Is it Risky? – A Summary of Data from Articles Published Between 2000-2009

The benefits of physical activity in old age are well documented. However, studies have shown that older adults are insufficiently active. One of the reported barriers to physical activity is fear of injuries. To review available data on the rate of injuries related to sport and purposeful physical activity in advanced aged. A systematic review of reports published in English, identified by searching four data bases and the reference lists of reviewed articles. Eligible reports were full articles in a peer-reviewed journal, and the study report had to include the injury rate of individuals aged 45 and above and the kind of activities that led to the injury. Seven reports met the inclusion criteria. Studies on injuries in advanced age are scarce, and lack information on the rate of injuries relative to the extent of exercise. The rate of injuries occurring during physical activity in advanced age, based on existing data, is very low compared to other ages. The injury rate of men is almost twice that of women. Men tend to get injured while engaging in ball games and bicycling, while women mostly during exercise. The most frequent reported injuries in the general population including older adults are strains and sprains, followed by fractures in the lower and upper extremities. Since older adults are being encouraged to increase their habitual physical activity even beyond the basic recommended guidelines, more studies are needed to assess the risk of injuries relative to the extent of exercise.

Integrative Training for Children and Adolescents: Techniques and Practices for Reducing Sports-Related Injuries and Enhancing Athletic Performance

As more children and adolescents participate in sports and conditioning activities (sometimes without consideration for cumulative workload), it is important to establish age-appropriate training guidelines that may reduce the risk of sports-related injury and enhance athletic performance. The purpose of this article is to review the scientific evidence on youth strength and conditioning and to provide age-appropriate recommendations for integrating different strength and conditioning activities into a well-designed program that is safe, effective, and enjoyable. Integrative training is defined as a program or plan that incorporates general and specific strength and conditioning activities that enhance both health- and skill-related components of physical fitness. The cornerstone of integrative training is age-appropriate education and instruction by qualified professionals who understand the physical and psychosocial uniqueness of children and adolescents.

Sustainable Playing Fields: 8 Steps to an Easy Field Facelift

According to the National Safe Kids Coalition, 30 million young people play organized sports in the United States annually. One million of them are treated annually in an emergency room and 50% of those treated injuries are preventable. As more people are encouraged to be active in their daily lives to combat health issues and obesity, an increased demand on recreational and sport facilities and playing surfaces will increase the degradation of the playing surfaces and thereby increase the risk of sports related injuries. Continual maintenance and upkeep of playing surfaces can be become a sinkhole for budgeted dollars if a facility use plan and a maintenance plan are not in place for dealing with the increase in play on athletic fields and parks. So why do the statistics of athletic injury matter? As we manage sports fields, our jobs are to reduce the number of injuries on our playing surfaces. We need to make our fields as safe as we can. There are a number of agronomic practices that many times are overlooked or forgotten about when managing sports turf. “8 Steps to an Easy Field Facelift” is a list of the management practices we can employ that will sustain our fields safer for play for a longer period of time at minimal cost.

Sports Participation in Selected Children With Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy

Despite the growth in youth sports in the United States, there is little information regarding sports participation in children with impairments, and specifically those with brachial plexus birth palsy (BPBP). The purpose of this investigation was to characterize the degree of sports participation, level of perceived diminished participation, and risk of sports-related injury in children with BPBP. Eighty-five children with BPBP between 6 and 18 years of age were queried about their participation in athletics. Information regarding sports played, duration of activity, level of participation, and injuries sustained was obtained and compared with published age-matched normative pediatric data. In addition, measurements of upper limb function and patient/parent-derived functional outcomes assessments were obtained using the modified Mallet classification, the Toronto Test Score, the Hospital for Sick Children Active Movement Scale, and the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument. Similar to the published normative pediatric data, 75 (88%) of BPBP children played sports, with 61 (72%) involved in individual and 54 (63%) in team sports. The children participated in a broad variety of sports, including those requiring upper extremity dexterity such as baseball, basketball, swimming, and gymnastics. Although most participated at a local/recreational level, some children did compete at the professional/national level. Types of sports injuries were also similar to published pediatric norms, with bruises and sprains being most common. Although the study cohort had lower Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument functional scores than the general population, these scores did not statistically differ between those children who played sports and those who did not. Despite differences in upper extremity and overall functional scores, children with BPBP safely participate in a broad variety of sports, at levels similar to published pediatric norms.

Play at Your Own Risk: Sport and the Injury Epidemic

Each year, more than 30 million children and adolescents participate in organized sports in the United States (US), and more than 4.3 million nonfatal sports- and recreation-related injuries are treated in US hospital emergency departments. Two types of activity-related injuries, in particular, that we study in the Bone and Joint Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation Center at the University of Michigan are anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and head injury and concussion. Knee ACL injuries are occurring in epidemic-like proportions. In the US alone there are approximately 200,000 new ACL injuries at a total cost of over $1 billion per year. ACL-injured patients are at a significant risk of developing early onset osteoarthritis. Exacerbating the concern is the increase in ACL injury rates in youth and adolescents; particularly girls can experience ACL injury rates from two to five times greater than boys in the same sport. In addition, 3.8 million sports- and recreation-related concussions occur in the US each year. Significantly more research is needed, but intriguing findings are surfacing. For example, high school athletes’ recovery times for a concussion are longer than college athletes’ recovery times. Moreover, high school athletes who sustain a concussion are 3 times more likely to sustain a second concussion. Preliminary studies state suggest women have a higher risk for head injury and post concussion syndrome due to potentially weaker neck muscles, different muscle activation patterns, and hormone variations. Three key questions must be answered to understand these and other sports-related injuries: 1) What is the magnitude of the epidemic? 2) What are the causes of injury? and 3) What can we do to prevent injuries? Without a greater awareness of the injury risk and a better understanding of the injury mechanisms, the risk of sport-related injuries may escalate in the coming years. Participation in sport can be beneficial for adults and children to promote exercise and healthy lifestyles. The benefits of exercise include decreasing the incidence of cardiovascular disease, obesity, osteoporosis, and diabetes and fostering a healthy image for children and youth. Although exercise and physical activity can have major benefits, some disadvantages do exist, including the

Sports-Related Injuries Among High School Athletes—United States, 2005-06 School Year

Participation in high school sports helps promote a physically active lifestyle. High school sports participation has grown from an estimated 4 million participants during the 1971-72 school year to an estimated 7.2 million in 2005-06. However, despite the documented health benefits of increased physical activity (e.g., weight management, improved self-esteem, and increased strength, endurance, and flexibility), those who participate in athletics are at risk for sports-related injuries. High school athletes account for an estimated 2 million injuries, 500,000 doctor visits, and 30,000 hospitalizations annually. To date, the study of these injuries has been limited by inabilities to calculate injury rates, compare results among groups, and generalize findings from small, nonrepresentative samples. During the 2005-06 school year, researchers at a children's hospital in Ohio used an Internet-based data-collection tool to pilot an injury surveillance system among athletes from a representative national sample of U.S. high schools. This report summarizes the findings of that study, which indicated that participation in high school sports resulted in an estimated 1.4 million injuries at a rate of 2.4 injuries per 1,000 athlete exposures (i.e., practices or competitions). Surveillance of exposure-based injury rates in a nationally representative sample of high school athletes and analysis of injury patterns can help guide activities aimed at reducing these injuries.

Young men at highest risk of sports-related injury

Young men at highest risk of sports-related injury

Sports related injuries in Scottish adolescents aged 11-15.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the age and sex distribution of self reported sports and leisure injuries in a 12 month retrospective recall period among a representative national sample of Scottish adolescents,...