Epidemiology of injuries during the Wheelchair Basketball World Championships 2018: A prospective cohort study

Several international sports federations have implemented a standardized injury reporting system during their championships. However, very few studies have investigated athletes with disabilities during major championships apart from the Paralympic Games. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the rate and characteristics of injuries during the Wheelchair Basketball World Championships 2018 (WBWC). This prospective cohort study was conducted during the WBWC held in Hamburg, Germany, from August 16 to August 26, 2018. Physicians or physiotherapists of all 28 participating teams (total 336 players) were asked to report all newly incurred injuries (with location, diagnosis, cause, and estimated duration of absence) daily on a standardized injury report form. Prevalence and incidence rates were calculated. Medical staff of 11 teams (132 players) reported 100 injuries, equivalent to 75.8 per 100 players (95% CI: 60.9-90.7) or 68.9 per 1000 player-days (55.4-82.4). Eight time-loss injuries were reported (6.1 injuries per 100 players [95% CI: 1.9-10.3] or 5.5 injuries per 1000 player-days [1.7-9.3]). More injuries were incurred during matches (n = 68) than during training. Most injuries affected the neck/cervical spine (16%), thoracic spine/upper back (15%), and shoulder (14%). The most frequent diagnosis was muscle spasms (25%), the most frequent cause was overuse (52%). A high rate of non–time-loss injuries compared to Paralympic Games was reported. Future studies should focus on the etiology of muscle spasms and further identify injury mechanisms of traumatic and overuse injuries in wheelchair basketball players to develop adequate preventive measures.     

Injuries among world-class professional beach volleyball players. The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball beach volleyball injury study

BACKGROUND: Very little is known about the injury characteristics of beach volleyball. PURPOSE: To describe the incidence and pattern of injuries among professional male and female beach volleyball players. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study--retrospective injury recall and prospective registration. METHODS: Injuries occurring over a 7.5-week interval of the summer season were retrospectively registered by interviewing 178 of the 188 participating players (95%) in the 2001 Beach Volleyball World Championships. Injuries were also cataloged prospectively during five of the tournaments held during this interval. RESULTS: Fifty-four acute injuries was recorded, of which 23 (43%) resulted in 1 or more days of missed practice or competition. The incidence of acute time-loss injuries was estimated to be 3.1 per 1000 competition hours and 0.8 per 1000 training hours. Knee (30%), ankle (17%), and finger injuries (17%) accounted for more than half of all acute time-loss injuries. In addition, 67 players reported 79 overuse injuries for which they received medical attention during the study period. The three most common overuse conditions were low back pain (19%), knee pain (12%), and shoulder problems (10%). Similar results were observed in the prospective portion of the study. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of acute time-loss injuries in beach volleyball is considerably lower than that in most other team sports, but overuse injuries affecting the low back, knees, and shoulder represent a significant source of disability and impaired performance for professional beach volleyball players.     

Injuries and illnesses during the 2011 Paris European Athletics Indoor Championships

This study aimed to record and analyse incidence and characteristics of injuries and illnesses incurred during the Indoor Athletics Championships. During the 2011 European Indoor Athletics Championships in Paris, incidence and characteristics of new injuries and illnesses were recorded prospectively by physicians and physiotherapists from national teams and local organizing committee in 631 registered athletes. Around 70% of athletes were covered by the medical teams (response rate: 84%). Thirty injuries, including eight time‐loss injuries, were reported, representing an incidence of 47.5 injuries and 29.4 time‐loss injuries per 1000 registered athletes. Injury and time‐loss injury risk were highest in heptathlon and hurdles. Three‐quarters of injuries affected the lower extremity. Thigh strain was the most common diagnosis (n = 7; 23%). Noncontact trauma (n = 9; 30%) was the predominant cause. A total of 18 illnesses were reported. Incidence of illnesses was 28.5 per 1000 registered athletes, with 17% resulting in time lost from sport. Upper respiratory tract infection was the most common diagnosis (n = 8; 44%) followed by upper respiratory tract allergy (n = 3; 17%) and gastroenteritis (n = 3; 17%). Injury and illness incidence and severity were lower during the 2011 European Indoor Athletics Championships than during outdoor championships, probably due to the shorter duration, the fewer number of events, and shorter sprint distances.     

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.     

Incidence and characteristics of time-loss injuries in competitive fencing: a prospective, 5-year study of national competitions

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence of time-loss injuries in competitive fencing and to characterize these injuries regarding type and location. DESIGN: A 5-year prospective study. SETTING: Data were collected at all national events organized by the U.S. Fencing Association (USFA) during the 2001-2006 seasons. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 78,223 male and female competitors, ranging in age from 8 to above 70, participated in various events in the targeted competitions. METHODS: Experienced certified athletic trainers (ATC) evaluated and documented all incidents that resulted in withdrawal from competition. Exposure data [athlete exposures (AE)] were calculated from the number of bouts completed in each competition. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rate of time-loss injury was calculated per 1000AE. Frequency distributions for types and locations of injuries were used to characterize time-loss injuries. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-four time-loss injuries were reported during the study, for an overall rate of 0.3 per 1000 AE (95% CI: 0.26-0.35). Of these, 26.1% were recorded as strains and 25.5% were identified as sprains. The knee was the most frequently injured location (19.6%), followed by the thigh (15.2%) and the ankle (13%). Overall, 60% of the injuries were in the lower extremities. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of time-loss injury in competitive fencing is low. Although there are differences in the distribution of types and location of time-loss injuries by sex and discipline, the predominant characteristics (sprain/strain in the lower extremities) are similar to other sports with ballistic action in stop-start, rapid change-of-direction activity.     

Injury and illness surveillance at local Special Olympic Games.

The purposes of this study were to: determine the incidence of injury and illness among Special Olympic athletes at local competitions; assess the relative risk of medical problems among Down's syndrome athletes; and compare the relative risk of sports injury incurred by athletes participating in various Special Olympic events. Health stations were set up at all sports venues and injury/illness surveillance records were kept for all injury/illness encounters during a 3-day competition for 777 Special Olympic athletes. A total of 3.5% of the athletes required injury/illness care during the games. Down's syndrome athletes were 3.2 times as likely to encounter a medical problem. Track and field events provided the least activity time and the most injuries. These data suggest that Special Olympic games at the local level are safe and that planners should prepare to treat more illnesses than injuries at such competitions.     

Training injury incidence in an amateur women’s rugby union team in New Zealand over two consecutive seasons

ObjectivesTo describe the training injury incidence in amateur women’s rugby union in New Zealand over two consecutive seasons.DesignA prospective cohort observational studyMethodsA total of 69 amateur women’s rugby 15s team playerswere observed. Training exposure and training injury incidence were calculated.ResultsThe 38 training injuries resulted in a total injury incidence of 11.4 (8.3–15.6) per 1,000 training-hours. There were 12 injuries that resulted in a time-loss injury incidence of 3.6 (95% CI: 2.0–6.3) per 1,000 training-hours. Forwards recorded more total (RR: 1.8 [95% CI: 0.9–3.5]; p = 0.0516) and time-loss (RR: 2.0 [95% CI: 0.6–6.6]; p = 0.2482) injuries than Backs. The tackle was the most common injury cause for total (3.0 [95% CI: 1.6–5.6] per 1,000 training-hours.) injuries, but collisions (1.5 [95% CI: 0.6–3.6] per 1,000 training-hours.) with the ground or another person were the most common cause for time-loss injuries.The training injuries occurred most often to the lower limb and during the latter part of training sessions. These injuries were mostly minor in nature resulting in minimal time-loss away from training.DiscussionThe time-loss injury incidence (3.6 per 1,000 training-hours.) for the amateur women’s rugby 15s team players was higher than that reported for National (1.2 per 1,000 training-hours.) and Rugby World Cup for women (0.2 to 3.0 per 1,000 training-hours.) competitions.ConclusionThe training injury incidence in amateur women’s rugby union in New Zealand was higher than that reported for national and international rugby union injury incidences.     

High injury incidence in TeamGym competition: a prospective cohort study

TeamGym is a relative new form of gymnastics originating from Scandinavia. Little is known regarding injury incidence and injury types. The aim of this study was to examine the injury pattern and incidence in Norwegian TeamGym competition. The study is a prospective cohort, with one 10-month season [17 competitions, n=8418 athlete-exposures (A-Es), a total of 1134 h of exposure]. Injury pattern, incidence and exposure during competition were collected using an injury registration form. During the competitions, 115 injuries were reported including 49 (43%) acute injuries, 58 (50%) exacerbations and eight (7%) re-injuries. The injury incidence was 50.3/1000 h or 6.8/1000 A-Es. Ankle injuries accounted for 25.6/1000 h. A total number of 30 time-loss injuries were found, giving 27 injuries per 1000 h. The high proportion of exacerbations shows that the gymnasts competed even if they had not recovered fully from previous overuse or acute injuries. A higher injury rate was observed in competition than during the pre-competition apparatus warm-up. Eighty-four per cent of the injuries occurred in the landing phase of the gymnastic skill. No sex differences were observed. The injury rate in Norwegian TeamGym competition is high, in particular for ankle injuries.     

The epidemiology of back injuries in elite Gaelic football athletes: An 8-year prospective study

ObjectivesTo describe the epidemiology of back injury in elite male Gaelic football athletes between 2008 and 2016.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingInjury data from the National GAA Injury Surveillance Database.ParticipantsElite male Gaelic football athletes.Main outcome measuresIncidence of injury as a rate per 1000 h of exposure.Results38 datasets were analysed. Out of a total of 1606 time-loss injuries, 76 were back injuries (4.73%, 95% CI 3.80%–5.88%). The incidence of back injuries in match play was 1.72 (CI 95% 1.21 to 2.45) and in training was 0.2 (CI 95% 0.14 to 0.28) injuries per 1000 h of exposure. The majority of back injuries (63.16%, CI 95% 51.93–73.12) were new, as opposed to recurrent (35.53% CI 95% 25.7–46.74). Most back injuries were acute (51.32%, CI 95% 40.29–62.22), compared to chronic (31.58%, CI 95% 22.23–42.7) or overuse (11.84%, CI 95% 6.36–21.00). The majority of back injuries occurred during non-contact player activities (n = 60, 78.94% CI 95% 68.50–86.60).ConclusionsBack injury rates in Gaelic football are similar to soccer and Australian football but less than rugby union. Further research is needed to understand the factors leading to the onset and recurrence of back injury in Gaelic football athletes.     

Despite maintaining a high daily training availability,a quarter of athletes start the season injured and three quarters experience injury in an Australian State Academy of Sport

ObjectivesTo 1) investigate the incidence, prevalence, burden and characteristics of injuries; and 2) explore the frequency of physiotherapy and medical servicing for elite sports academy athletes over a 12-month season.DesignProspective cohort study.MethodsMedical attention and time-loss injuries were prospectively recorded by Physiotherapy and Medical (Sports Physician) staff for 94 athletes (72.3% females). The number of linked physiotherapy and medical servicing appointments was also recorded. Injury incidence rates (IIR), point and period prevalence, and injury burden were calculated and compared by athlete gender, sport, and categorisation (performance level) using incidence rate ratios (IRR).ResultsThe number of injuries reported was 193 in 71 (75.5%) athletes. The IIR was 2.1 (95%CI: 1.8 to 2.4) injuries per 365 days, with no gender difference observed (IRR: 1.1, 0.8 to 1.4). The injury burden was 43.5 (95%CI: 37.8 to 50.1) days absent per 365 days. More than one-quarter (point prevalence, 26.6%) of athletes commenced the season with an injury. In-season injury risk was 2.5 fold greater in athletes who started the season with an injury compared to athletes who started the season without an injury (IRR: 2.5, 1.9 to 3.4). The majority (81.2%) of the 1164 appointments recorded were physiotherapy, with an overall 4.3:1.0 physiotherapy to medical appointment ratio.ConclusionsOne in four athletes began the elite pathway season with a pre-existing injury, while also demonstrating a 2.5 fold greater risk of subsequent injury in the scholarship period. Sports should not assume their athletes are uninjured at the beginning of their scholarship. Injury profiles, and physiotherapy and medical servicing varied across sports. To reduce health as a barrier in the successful transition of talented young athletes to elite athletes, injury management strategies at the commencement of recruitment and throughout the scholarship should be prioritised in the development pathway.     

第14届世界游泳锦标赛运动员损伤与疾病调查

目的:了解高水平游泳运动员在国际赛事中的损伤与疾病发生特点。方法:对第14届世界游泳锦标赛中前往医疗站就诊的运动员的损伤和疾病情况进行登记。医疗站医生收集运动员的医疗报告,每天上报给组委会医疗保障部,比赛结束后统一分析处理。按照国际奥委会损伤疾病监控系统(IOC injury and illness surveillance system)对运动员的损伤和疾病情况进行归类、统计分析,与以往数据比较。结果:整个赛期2165名注册运动员中,172名运动员就诊,运动损伤53例(24‰),女性运动员损伤发生率(n=21,18‰)低于男性(n=32,32‰)。游泳项目的损伤病例数最多(n=20),公开水域项目的损伤发生率最高(50‰)。运动损伤好发部位为头部躯干(35.8%)、下肢(35.8%)。最常见的损伤类型为皮肤擦伤,占全部就诊运动损伤病例的34%。整个赛期共发生疾病99例(46‰),呼吸道感染高发(n=40,40.4%),因牙齿问题到定点医院就诊的运动员人数最多(n=10,8例牙齿疾病,2例外伤导致牙齿断裂)。结果显示:与历届游泳锦标赛相比,本次比赛中运动员损伤发生率大为下降,呼吸系统感染是运动员的最常见疾病。预防牙病和牙齿健康应该得到重视。     

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.     

Incidence and risk factors of injuries in Brazilian elite handball players: A prospective cohort study

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors for handball injuries in Brazilian elite handball players. Overall, 339 athletes from 21 handball teams who participated in the two main Brazilian championships were followed up during a season. In total, 312 injuries were reported by 201 athletes. The injury incidence rate during training was 3.7/1000 h, and during matches was 20.3/1000 matches. Ankle (19.4%, n = 46) and knee (13.5%, n = 32) were the body regions most affected by traumatic injuries. Shoulders (44.0%, n = 33) and knee (26.7%, n = 20) were the body regions most affected by overuse injuries. Muscle injuries (27.1%, n = 68) was the traumatic injury type most reported. Tendinopathy (91.8%, n = 56) was the overuse injury type most observed. Previous injury (OR: 2.42, CI 95%: 1.51–3.89) and an additional match per week (OR: 1.31, CI 95%: 1.05–1.62) were associated with a higher risk of overuse injury. Female athletes (OR: 1.56, CI 95%: 1.08–2.25) and an additional hour of training per week (OR: 1.09, CI 95%: 1.02–1.15) were associated with a higher risk of traumatic injury. This study showed that athletes with previous injury have shown a high risk of developing an overuse injury.     

Recording injuries only during winter competitive season underestimates injury incidence in elite alpine skiers

Current epidemiological studies in elite alpine skiers are mostly limited to retrospective surveys on in-season injury. The aim of this study was to determine the risk and pattern of injury in elite alpine skiers during the winter competitive season (WCS) and the summer off-season (SOS). European Cup skiers were prospectively followed during 5 complete years. A total of 133 skier-seasons (79 males and 54 females) completed the study. All acute and overuse injuries that required medical attention were registered, representing a total of 166 injuries. Absolute injury incidence was 124.8 (95% CI [106-145]) injuries per 100 athletes per complete season and was higher during the WCS compared with the SOS, albeit in a smaller magnitude than expected (relative risk ratio (RR) 1.44 [1.06-1.96]). The absolute incidence of severe injuries (ie, time-loss >28 days) was twofold higher during WCS compared with SOS (RR 2.19 [1.21-3.95]). Most common injuries during the 2013-2015 seasons were knee followed by back (absolute incidences 56 [38-80] and 20 [10-36], respectively; RR 2.82 [1.42-5.61]), but this difference disappeared after 2015 (absolute incidences 25.6 [15.7-39.6] and 23.1 [13.7-36.5], respectively; RR 1.11 [0.59-2.10]). In summary, we found that 98 (59%) injuries occurred during WCS and 68 (41%) during SOS over 5 years. These results demonstrate the necessity to record injuries during the entire year to avoid a significant underestimation of the injury incidence. In addition, the current data showed an evolution of injury pattern over time and since previous reports, with back injuries being the main concern along knee joint injuries.     

Injury profiles in elite women’s T20 cricket

ObjectivesTo Describe the injury incidence and prevalence during two years of a professional women’s T20 cricket tournament.DesignProspective cohort study.MethodsInjuries were recorded prospectively for 68 matches during a professional women’s T20 tournament in 2016 and 2017. There were six teams of 15 players. Participants were female, aged between 16–38 years (mean 23.4 ± 4.8). Time-loss and non time-loss incidence and prevalence were calculated for match days, region, skill group, mode and activity at time of injury.ResultsThe greatest incidence occurred in the shoulder (1.8 injuries per 100 match days), lower back (1.7 injuries per 100 match days) and knee (1.7 injuries per 100 match days). The highest time-loss prevalence occurred in hand (1.7%), head/face (0.8%) and thigh (0.6%). All head injuries were concussion. Catching related injuries caused the most time-loss (2.5% prevalence) and throwing related shoulder injury had the highest incidence (2.3 injuries per 100 match days). Gradual onset injuries had the highest overall incidence (7.9 injuries per 100 match days).ConclusionsIn elite female T20 cricket, time-loss injuries, particularly impact/traumatic injuries are most likely to occur during fielding, suggesting pitch side support and trauma training is a priority. The high incidence of gradual onset injuries, particularly throwing related shoulder pain, indicates that managing workload and ensuring physical preparedness is vital.     

Injury incidence in a sports school during a 3-year follow-up

Purpose

This study prospectively analysed sports injury incidence over 3 seasons in a regional sports school within an injury surveillance project, involving 372 athletes (12–19 years) from 16 different disciplines.

Methods

A personal sports diary was used to record all sporting activities daily for every athlete. Injuries (time-loss definition) were registered via a standardized questionnaire.

Results

Sports injury incidence (injuries/1,000 h) evolved from 3.9 in the first year to 4.8 in the second (p < 0.01) and down to 2.8 in the third (p < 0.001, compared to the preceding periods). Significant decreases of injury incidence in the third year were also observed when classifying injuries as traumatic or overuse, and as new or recurrent. The proportion of recurrent injuries was lower in the third period (11 %) when compared to the first (19.5 %, p < 0.05) and the second one (26.3 %, p < 0.05). Injury incidence was lowest during the third period for all severity categories. The same was found when considering injuries within racket, team and individual sports.

Conclusions

Implementing an injury surveillance system in this setting was associated with a lower injury incidence in the third observation period. This project may have influenced stakeholders’ awareness and attitude towards the sports injury problematic.

Level of evidence

Prospective cohort study with ≤80 % follow-up, Level II.     

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.     

Lower limb muscle injury location shift from posterior lower leg to hamstring muscles with increasing discipline-related running velocity in international athletics championships

ObjectiveTo analyse the rates of lower limb muscle injuries in athletics disciplines requiring different running velocities during international athletics championships.DesignProspective total population study.MethodsDuring 13 international athletics championships (2009–2019) national medical teams and local organizing committee physicians daily reported all newly incurred injuries using the same study design, injury definition and data collection procedures. In-competition lower limb muscle injuries of athletes participating in disciplines involving running (i.e. sprints, hurdles, jumps, combined events, middle distances, long distances, and marathon) were analysed.ResultsAmong the 12,233 registered athletes, 344 in-competition lower limb muscle injuries were reported (36% of all in-competition injuries). The proportion, incidence rates and injury burden of lower limb muscles injuries differed between disciplines for female and male athletes. The most frequently injured muscle group was hamstring in sprints, hurdles, jumps, combined events and male middle distances runners (43–75%), and posterior lower leg in female middle distances, male long distances, and female marathon runners (44–60%). Hamstring muscles injuries led to the highest burden in all disciplines, except for female middle distance and marathon and male long distance runners. Hamstring muscles injury burden was generally higher in disciplines requiring higher running velocities, and posterior lower leg muscle injuries higher in disciplines requiring lower running velocities.ConclusionsThe present study shows discipline-specific injury location in competition context. Our findings suggest that the running velocity could be one of the factors that play a role in the occurrence/location of muscle injuries.     

A prospective study of health problems at the 2018 17/U and 19/U Australian National Netball Championships with comparison of surveillance methodology

ObjectiveTo investigate the incidence, site, nature and cause of injuries sustained during and four weeks following the 2018 Australian National Netball Championships (ANNC’s) using medical attention and self-report surveillance tools.DesignProspective cohort study.MethodInjuries were recorded prospectively using medical attention and self-report data collection methods. One hundred and ninety-two athletes competed at the 2018 ANNC’s with 96 athletes in each age group (17/U & 19/U).ResultsThere were 103 medical attention injuries sustained by 80 athletes resulting in an incidence rate of 89.4 per 1000 player hours. The most frequently recorded medical attention injury diagnoses across both age groups were lateral ankle ligament sprain (n = 14, 13.6%), foot blisters (n = 11, 10.7%), and lumbar pain (n = 10, 9.7%). Ankle sprains (n = 4), anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures (n = 3) and concussion (n = 3) recorded as the highest sports incapacity injuries. The self-report data collection revealed that 46 (27.2%) athletes arrived at the tournament with an existing self-reported injury/illness and 57 (39.3%) athletes had a self-reported injury/illness at the conclusion of the ANNC (RR 1.44 95%CI 1.05–1.99, p = 0.030).ConclusionThere are no recent studies reporting injury rates specifically in pre-elite netball players. This study found an incidence rate of 89.4 per 1000 player hours. Ankle sprains are the highest medical attention and sports-incapacity injury in pre-elite netball athletes. Foot blisters and low back pain also feature in the highest medical attention injuries and ACL rupture and concussion were high sports incapacity injuries at the ANNC’s. Finally, combining both the medical attention and self-report injury/illness data collection methods identified more injuries/illnesses than the use of one method alone.