Training in spikes and number of training hours correlate to injury incidence in youth athletics (track and field): A prospective 52-week study

ObjectivesThe aim was to describe the annual incidence and types of musculoskeletal injuries, and to examine factors associated with injury risk.DesignA 52-week prospective study in Swedish youth athletics aged 12–15 years.MethodsData on exposure to training and injury were collected from parents/caregivers and youth athletes using a web-survey system.ResultsA total of 101 (86%) youth athletes participated. Fifty-four (53%) of the athletes reported one new injury. Girls were at higher risk of sustaining an injury than boys (p = 0.048). Ninety-one percent of the new injuries were non-traumatic and 85% occurred in the lower extremities. Injuries to the front thigh represented 20% of the injuries. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses showed a six-fold increased risk for a first injury for athletes reporting use of spikes and training <6 h every two weeks (hazard ratio, 6.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–31.3) compared to athletes training <6 h using no spikes. Athletes training 6 h or more reporting use or no use of spikes had an eight-fold increase injury risk (p < 0.01).ConclusionsAlmost half of the youth athletes experienced a new injury and girls had a higher risk compared to boys. Nine out of ten injuries were related to overuse. An interesting observation was the high incidence of injuries to the quadriceps muscle complex. The study identified a correlation with training hours and an interaction with track spikes and risk of injury that needs further attention.     

Specialization patterns across various youth sports and relationship to injury risk

Objectives: Current trends among young athletes towards earlier specialization age and year-round training on multiple teams has raised concern for increased injury risk. Our previous analyses showed higher risk for injury in highly specialized young athletes. The goal of this research was to determine whether sports specialization and injury patterns vary by sports type.

Methods: In this clinical case-control study, injured athletes (aged 7–18 years) were recruited from sports medicine clinics and compared to similarly aged uninjured athletes recruited from primary care clinics. Participants completed a survey reporting age, gender, sport type, specialization patterns, and details regarding sports-related injuries in the previous 6 months. Clinical diagnoses were collected from patients’ medical records. Injuries were classified as acute, overuse, or serious overuse.

Results: Of 1,190 athletes enrolled, 26% (313) were single-sport specialized (reported participation in one sport and trained >8 months/year). Sports with the highest proportion of single-sport specialized athletes were tennis (46.7%), gymnastics (30.1%), and dance (26.3%). Single-sport specialized athletes in individual sports started specializing at a younger age (11.2 ± 2.4 vs. 12.0 ± 2.7, p = 0.05) and reported higher training volumes (11.8 vs. 10.3 h/week, p = 0.04) than those in team sports. Sports with the youngest specialization age were gymnastics (8.9 ± 1.7), dance (10.8 ± 3.0), and soccer (10.9 ± 2.4). Single-sport specialized athletes in individual sports accounted for a higher proportion of overuse injuries (44.3% vs 32.2%, OR = 1.67, p = 0.037) and serious overuse injuries (23.4% vs 11.6%, OR = 2.38, p = 0.011), but a lower proportion of acute injuries (28.8% vs 13.8%, OR = 0.37, p = 0.001) compared to single-sport specialized athletes involved in team sports.

Conclusions: Athletes in individual sports may be more likely to specialize in a single sport than team sport athletes. Single-sport specialized athletes in individual sports also reported higher training volumes and greater rates of overuse injuries than single-sport specialized athletes in team sports.     

Injuries to Athletes Outside Their NCAA Sports

In brief: In this two-year study of athletic injuries, 92 of 1,232 (7.5%) injuries were to athletes participating in sports that were not their major college varsity sports. Many of these athletes were participating for off-season conditioning. The authors suggest that coaches help the athletes choose an off-season sport that doesn't pose a high risk of injury.     

A review of epidemiology of paediatric elbow injuries in sports

The elbow is a common site of orthopaedic injury in the paediatric population. The number of these injuries continues to rise following increased levels of participation in paediatric recreational and competitive sport. Injuries to the paediatric elbow can be classified as either overuse or acute. Delineating injury patterns to the elbow in children can be challenging, given the cartilaginous composition of the distal humerus and the multiple secondary ossification centres that appear and unite with the epiphysis at defined ages. Pitching in baseball, serving in tennis, spiking in volleyball, passing in American football and launching in javelin-throwing can all produce elbow pathology by forceful valgus stress, with medial stretching, lateral compression and posterior impingement. In children and adolescents, the epiphyseal plate is weaker than the surrounding ligaments, predisposing them to epiphyseal plate injuries. On the other hand, post-pubescent or skeletally mature athletes are more prone to tendinous or ligamentous injury. Injuries may cause significant impact on the athlete, parents and healthcare system. With the exception of baseball, there are few prospective cohort studies on the epidemiological trends of childhood elbow injuries in other sports. This paper aims to describe the epidemiological trends in paediatric elbow injuries related to sports, suggests prevention strategies and discusses the scope for further research. A web-based search of existing articles pertaining to paediatric elbow injuries in sports was performed. The implications of acute and overuse injuries and the possibility of permanent damage should be understood by parents, coaches and the athletes. Proper understanding of the intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors that could lead to elbow injuries is thus required. Measures to prevent elbow injuries should include proper coaching, warm-up, officiation, legislation, medical expertise and protective gear. There are still many opportunities for prospective studies and other research projects among young athletes in various sports. Current studies will serve as a baseline for future research to assess the success of specific interventions in reducing the incidence of elbow injury in the paediatric athlete. Further epidemiological studies in various sports will help expand our knowledge and prevent potential disability and deformity in the paediatric elbow.     

Part I: epidemiology and risk factors for stress fractures in female athletes

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Stress fractures (SFx) are a common athletic injury, occurring in up to 40% of athletes at some point in their career. These injuries can cause pain, permanent disability, financial burden, and loss of playing time. This review presents updated epidemiology and comprehensive analysis of risk factors for stress fractures, especially as it pertains to female athletes.

Results: Stress fractures (SFx) account for up to 10% of all orthopedic injuries and up to 20% of injuries seen in sports medicine clinics, with an incidence among female athletes as high as 13%. Lower extremity SFx represent 80–95% of SFx, and the increased popularity of endurance running has contributed to the tibia (49% prevalence) replacing the metatarsals (9%) as the most common location for lower extremity SFx. Studies have demonstrated that 50% of peak bone mass is acquired during adolescence, a ‘peak time’ for eating disorder and female athlete triad development; furthermore, catch-up growth cannot be expected in athletes with diminished bone growth in this critical period. The female athlete triad (low energy availability with or without disordered eating, menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density) are well-known risk factors for SFx; the risk of SFx for female athletes presenting with a single aspect of the triad is 15–20%, and this risk increases to 30–50% for female athletes presenting with multiple aspects of the triad.

Conclusion: This review provides a basis for how to identify populations at greatest risk for SFx. Prompt recognition of the intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors for SFx in female athletes is imperative to early diagnosis and to develop targeted strategies to prevent SFx occurrence or recurrence.     

The pediatric overhead athlete: what is the real problem?

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this article are to examine shoulder and elbow injuries in pediatric athletes, to evaluate the pathophysiology and pathomechanics that may be associated with the pathoanatomy, and to present suggestions for the prevention of those injuries. DATA SOURCES: This article will review the published sports medicine literature on these topics in baseball and tennis injuries and present a kinetic chain-based perspective on the possible causative factors that are present in the young thrower. RESULTS: The published literature shows that there are multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors that contribute to the risk of injury in young throwing athletes. These factors appear to develop over time; if not recognized or addressed early, they have undesirable outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: A multitude of factors, including anatomical, biomechanical, and environmental concerns, can contribute to the dysfunction of the shoulder and elbow in young overhead athletes. Understanding the force-generating and load-absorbing processes of the body will help clinicians, coaches, and others prevent or limit the deleterious effects of such occurrences.     

Pathophysiology of overuse tendon injury

Overuse tendon injury is one of the most common injuries in sports.The etiology as well as the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to tendinopathy are of crucial medical importance.At the moment intrinsic and extrinsic factors are assumed as mechanisms of overuse tendon injury. Except for the acute, extrinsic trauma, the chronic overuse tendon injury is a multifactorial process. There are many other factors, such as local hypoxia, less of nutrition, impaired metabolism and local inflammatory that may also contribute to the development of tissue damage.The exact interaction of these factors cannot be explained entirely at the moment.Further studies will be necessary in order to get more information.     

Overuse Injury in the Young Athlete: Reasons for Concern

In brief: More children are becoming intensely involved in competitive sports programs at younger ages. These children must cope with the psychological stress of competing as well as the physical stress of training during growth periods. A survey of the literature available on overuse injuries in children's sports showed few long-term studies on causes and prevention but isolated several factors that contribute to injury. Guidelines for people who direct youth sports programs emphasize adjustment of training to the child's physical and social development.     

Overuse injuries of the lower extremity in runners

The purpose of this article is to review the literature on overuse injuries of the lower extremity in runners and to discuss briefly today's knowledge concerning etiology, diagnosis and treatment. Running is a natural entity in many sports and a majority of runners will sustain one or more overuse injuries throughout the career, in most cases affecting the lower extremity. A runner may be regarded as an athlete who regularly runs as the predominant physical acitivty. From that point, we should subdivide the definition "runner" considering the character of different sports or recreational activities performed. Overuse injuries are often described merely from symptoms, including several different etiological and pathoan-atomic correlates covering a variety of ailments. The clinical approach should be focused on a thorough history and physical examination. Analysis of possible injury mechanisms, correction of associated extrinsic and intrinsic factors and advice on alternative training should be given. A knowledge of specific demands from the type of running performed is necessary to evaluate the symptoms presented. Overuse etiology has to be considered multifactorial with a yet unsolved exact pathophysiology needing further research. The definition of a "runner", of "running" and of "overuse injury" should be established and agreed upon. This review attempts to draw attention to the huge multidisciplinary work that has to be done to better understand the mechanisms causing an overuse injury in a runner and to define diagnoses on a scientific base, whether or not excentric or intrinsic factors predispose or trigger.     

Content validity of the SOS-WRIST questionnaire for timely identification of wrist overuse in young athletes

Objectives: Young athletes do not always seek medical help for overuse wrist injuries, risking invalidating long-term consequences resulting from late diagnosis. This study aimed to develop a questionnaire to identify overuse wrist injuries in young athletes.

Methods: According to the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) criteria, items were collected from literature and 6 focus groups of sports physicians and of young athletes with (previous) overuse wrist injuries. An expert panel and 40 Delphi study participants performed item reduction. Young athletes evaluated comprehensiveness during interviews and English translation was performed according to linguistic validation guidelines.

Results: In total 323 items were generated and 110 were marked important by focus group participants. The resulting questionnaire consists of 18 multiple-choice questions about wrist pain during sports (e.g. pain during training, skipping training sessions/elements) and daily life activities (e.g. writing, turning a key), and other symptoms (e.g. reduced strength, swelling).

Conclusion: The SOS-WRIST questionnaire for identification of overuse wrist injuries in young athletes has good content validity. It can be used to promote awareness and timely treatment of overuse wrist injuries in young athletes.     

Evaluation of adolescent sport specialization and injury mechanism by sex: A secondary analysis

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to compare the association of sport specialization with previous overuse and acute injuries between male and female adolescent athletes.DesignCross-sectional study.MethodsQuestionnaires were completed by adolescent athletes from various sports at sport club summer events in the state of Wisconsin. Adolescent athletes (12–18 years old) who were active in organized sports in the previous year were recruited. The questionnaire contained demographics, sport participation, sport specialization classification, and previous injury history. Sport specialization classification was determined using common methods in sport specialization research. Previous injury was restricted to athletic injuries that occurred in the past year.ResultsTwo-thousand and eleven participants (age = 13.7 ± 1.6 years, females = 989) completed the questionnaire. Highly specialized athletes were more likely to report both acute and overuse injuries compared to low specialization athletes. However, this relationship differed by sex, with only moderate and highly specialized females being more likely (Moderate: OR [95%CI] = 1.74 [1.18–2.58], p = 0.005; High: OR [95%CI] = 1.69 [1.14–2.53], p = 0.010) to report an overuse injury compared to low specialization females. Highly specialized female athletes were more likely to report an acute injury (High: OR [95%CI] = 1.46 [1.06–2.02], p = 0.022) compared to low specialization females. Highly specialized male athletes were not associated with overuse or acute injuries.ConclusionsHighly specialized athletes were more likely to report acute and overuse injuries. However, when this analysis was separated by sex, only highly specialized females were more likely to report a previous overuse or acute injury.     

Sports‐related injuries in athletes with disabilities

The number of athletes with disabilities participating in organized sports and the popularity of the Paralympic Games is steadily increasing around the world. Despite this growing interest and the fact that participation in sports places the athlete at risk for injury, there are few studies concerning injury patterns, risk factors, and prevention strategies of injuries in disabled athletes. In this systematic literature search and critical review, we summarize current knowledge of the epidemiology of sports‐related injuries in disabled athletes and describe their characteristics, incidence, prevalence, and prevention strategies. The outcomes of interest were any injury, either an acute trauma or an overuse event. PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Google Scholar were systematically searched and 25 of 605 identified studies met the inclusion criteria. Lower extremity injuries were more common in walking athletes, whereas upper extremity injuries were more prevalent in wheelchair athletes. The methodologies and populations varied widely between the studies. Few studies were sports or disability specific, which makes it difficult to determine specific risk factors, and few studies reported injury severity and prevention of injuries. Further longitudinal, systematic sports and disability specific studies are needed in order to identify and prevent injuries in athletes with disabilities.     

Association between training volume and lower extremity overuse injuries in young female athletes: implications for early sports specialization

Background: Recent studies indicated greater risk of overuse injuries among young female athletes than their male counterparts. However, few studies have focused on female athletes and the effect of single-sport participation on lower extremity overuse injuries.

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify an independent risk variable for lower extremity overuse injuries based on status of sport participations (single- and multisports) in young female athletes.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 12–18-year-old female athletes were asked to complete electronic questionnaires describing their current sport participation and previous injury history. Range of motion (ROM), muscular strength, and performance parameters were measured at the time of completion of electronic questionnaires. Potential risk variables were compared between single- and multisport athletes and entered into a logistic regression model. Adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), and p values were recorded to find an association with increased likelihood of lower extremity overuse injuries.

Results: The study cohort comprised 236 female young athletes (single-sport athletes: N = 60, multisport athletes: N = 176). A few variables including age, BMI, weekly hours of training for a sport, knee ROM, ankle ROM, and knee extensor strength were identified as potential risk variables. A logistic regression analysis showed an independent association between increased weekly hours of training for a sport and greater likelihood of histories of lower extremity overuse injuries (aOR = 1.091, 95% CIs: 1.007–1.183, p = .034).

Conclusion: Although status of single- or multisports participation was not a significant risk variable, increased training volume was found to be an independent contributing factor for greater likelihood of lower extremity overuse injury histories in 12–18 years female athletes. The current study identified that single-sport athletes trained nearly twice as many hours per week when compared to multisport athletes, which may explain an underlying mechanism of sports specialization.     

Intrinsic risk factors for the development of achilles tendon overuse injury: a prospective study

BACKGROUND: Although Achilles tendon overuse injuries occur commonly, our understanding of the pathologic changes and the factors that predispose athletes to them is limited. PURPOSE: To identify measurable intrinsic risk factors for Achilles tendon overuse injuries. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study (prognosis); Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: Sixty-nine male officer cadets followed the same 6-week basic military training. Before this training, each subject was evaluated for anthropometrical characteristics, isokinetic ankle muscle strength, ankle joint range of motion, Achilles tendon stiffness, explosive strength, and leisure and sports activity. During military training, Achilles tendon overuse injuries were registered and diagnosed by the same medical doctor. To identify the intrinsic risk factors, a multivariate analysis with the use of stepwise logistic regression was performed. The sensitivity, specificity, and cutoff values of the risk factors were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: Ten of the 69 male recruits (14.5%) sustained an Achilles tendon overuse injury diagnosed on the basis of medical history and clinical examination. Analysis revealed that male recruits with lower plantar flexor strength and increased dorsiflexion excursion were at a greater risk of Achilles tendon overuse injury. The cutoff value of the plantar flexor strength at 85% sensitivity was 50.0 N.m, with a 4.5% specificity; the cutoff value of the dorsiflexion range of motion at 85% sensitivity was 9.0 degrees , with 24.2% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The strength of the plantar flexors and amount of dorsiflexion excursion were identified as significant predictors of an Achilles tendon overuse injury. A plantar flexor strength lower than 50.0 N.m and dorsiflexion range of motion higher than 9.0 degrees were possible thresholds for developing an Achilles tendon overuse injury.     

Overuse injuries in adolescent athletes.

As sports participation increases so too does the incidence of injuries, both acute and overuse. The growing skeleton is particularly susceptible due to the presence of growth cartilage at 3 locations; the epiphyseal plate, the joint surface and the apophysis. The risk of injury is most pronounced during the rapid growth spurt of adolescence when other factors, such as muscle tightness across joints, also become important in the aetiology of sporting injury. Overuse injuries seen in this age group may reflect the growth characteristics of the immature skeleton or may be of the type seen in adult athletes undergoing rigorous training schedules. Recent developments in organised competitive sport have seen growing individuals undertake prolonged and intensive training programmes when they are particularly at risk of sustaining an overuse injury. The training programme is one of a number of risk factors important in the generation of injury, many of which can be modified or controlled to an extent. Other factors such as growth deformities or malalignments are peculiar to the individual and preparticipation evaluation of the young athlete helps to identify those at risk. Whilst long term disability rarely eventuates, the loss of enjoyment and temporary incapacity resulting from this type of injury is significant. It is apparent that many of these injuries are preventable, and given the information available concerning the factors involved in their aetiology, it is the responsibility of coaches and health professionals alike to become involved in their early diagnosis, treatment and prevention.     

Monitoring of sport participation and injury risk in young athletes

ObjectivesCareful modulation of training characteristics in high-level sports optimizes performance and avoids inappropriate workloads and associated sports injury risk. The aims of this study were to compare sport participation characteristics in different youth sport categories and to investigate their relationship with injury.DesignProspective cohort follow-up.MethodsYoung (12–19 years) high-level athletes (n = 154) from a regional sport school were followed during 41 weeks regarding sport participation characteristics and traumatic and overuse sports injuries (time-loss definition). All data were self-recorded by the athletes in an electronic system “TIPPS” (Training and Injury Prevention Platform for Sports) and subject to a systematic data quality control. Volume and intensity (self-rated perceived exertion) of each sport session were used to compute weekly load, monotony and strain. Sport categories were defined as team, racket, and individual sports.ResultsAll sport participation characteristics were dependent on sport category (p < 0.05). Weekly intensity, load and strain were dependent on age (p < 0.05). Racket and individual sports were associated with lower injury risk (HR = 0.37 and 0.34, p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) compared to team sports. Average sport participation characteristics were not related to injury according to the survival analysis. However, intensity during the week prior to injury was significantly higher (p < 0.01) compared to that of the 4 preceding weeks.ConclusionsThis study investigated for the first time the relationship between sport participation pattern and injury risk in young athletes. The monitoring method was sensitive to variations according to pertinent variables and might help identify athletes with increased sports injury risk.     

Epidemiology and traumatology of injuries in track athletes

During one year 4398 injured athletes were treated at the casualty wards of Aarhus, Denmark; 156 were practicing track and field disciplines. In the same period 54 track athletes of a Danish sport club were followed in order to register any lesion incurred during sports activity. Thirty-one athletes (57%) had 35 injuries, giving an injury incidence of 1.8 per 1000 hours of practice. At follow-up after 1 year, 13% of all athletes still had complaints, and none of them had returned to former sports activity. Jumpers had overuse symptoms correlated to take-off, and sprains or fractures related to downstrokes. Runners had a higher risk of overuse injuries than jumpers, especially involving the Achilles tendon and the plantar aponeurosis. Young athletes had a higher injury incidence per time than older participants; and women had higher injury risk than men.     

Evaluation of overuse injuries in children and adolescents

With the increasingly competitive nature of many youth sports and with single-sport specialization occurring at young ages, overuse injuries are common among young athletes. Several growth-related factors contribute to the development of overuse injuries in children and adolescents, including the susceptibility of growth cartilage to injury and the adolescent growth spurt. This article will discuss these unique factors and provide an overview of the diagnosis and treatment of overuse injuries in this age group. Specific measures aimed at preventing overuse injuries in young athletes also will be presented.