The Epidemiology of Pediatric Basketball Injuries Presenting to US Emergency Departments: 2000-2006

Epidemiology and Sex-Specific Analysis of Basketball-Related Lower Extremity Fractures: A 10-Year Analysis of National Injury Data

BACKGROUND

Basketball-related fractures involving the lower extremities frequently present to emergency departments (ED) in the United States (US). This study aimed to identify the primary mechanisms, distribution, and trends of these injuries.

HYPOTHESIS

We hypothesize that (1) lower extremity fracture frequency will decrease from 2013 to 2022, (2) the ankle will be the most common fracture site, and (3) noncontact twisting will be the most common injury mechanism.

STUDY DESIGN

Descriptive epidemiological.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 3.

METHODS

The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was queried for lower extremity fractures from basketball presenting to US EDs from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2022. Patient demographics, injury location, and disposition were recorded. The injury mechanism was characterized using the provided narrative. National estimates (NEs) were calculated using the NEISS statistical sample weight. Injury trends were evaluated by linear regression.

RESULTS

There were 6259 cases (NE: 185,836) of basketball-related lower extremity fractures. Linear regression analysis of annual trends demonstrated a significant decrease in lower extremity fractures over the study period (2013-2022: P = 0.01; R2 = 0.64). The most common injury mechanism was a noncontact twisting motion (NE: 49,897, 26.9%) followed by jumping (NE: 39,613, 21.3%). The ankle was the most common fracture site (NE: 69,936, 37.6%) followed by the foot (NE: 49,229, 26.49%). While ankle and foot fractures decreased significantly (P < 0.05), fractures of the lower leg, knee, toe, and upper leg showed no significant trends (P = 0.09, 0.75, 0.07, and 0.85, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Basketball-related lower extremity fractures decreased from 2013 to 2022, with the ankle being the most common fracture site and most fractures arising from a noncontact twist. Increasing utilization of outpatient clinics may have contributed to the decline, particularly for ankle and foot fractures. The prevalence of ankle fractures and twisting-related injuries reinforces the importance of protective footwear and targeted strengthening protocols.

The Epidemiology of Pediatric Basketball Injuries Presenting to US Emergency Departments: 2011-2020

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study is to describe the national epidemiology of basketball-related injuries in children and adolescents presenting to US emergency departments (EDs) from 2011 to 2020 and to quantify the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database was queried for cases of injury in persons aged 0 to 19 years related to product code 1205 (basketball and related equipment) presenting from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2020. National injury estimates were calculated using National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-recommended weights and strata. The US Census data were used to determine the incidence of injury by age group and by sex. To quantify the effect of COVID-19, an interrupted time series analysis was performed using March 1, 2020 as the interrupting time point. The pre-COVID-19 trend was used to estimate the difference in injuries attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESULTS

From 2011 to 2020, an estimated 3,210,953 (95% confidence interval = 2,655,812-3,788,094) visits were made to US EDs for basketball-related injuries in those aged younger than 20 years, corresponding to a mean annual incidence of 391 injuries per 100,000 population. The mean age of injury was 14.4 years (95% confidence interval = 14.3-14.5). Boys were more often injured than girls (76% vs 24% of all injuries, respectively). The foot was the most injured body part, accounting for 24% of injuries. Strains or sprains were the most common injury type (38% of injuries). During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 155,638 fewer injuries than were expected based on pre-COVID-19 trends. During COVID-19, there were no significant differences in the proportions of injury types, body parts involved, sex, or age.

CONCLUSIONS

Basketball remains a frequent cause of injury, especially in adolescents. The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly reduced the frequency of basketball-related injuries, but did not affect the type and body location of injuries presenting to the ED.

Landing Technique and Ankle-dorsiflexion Range of Motion are not Associated with the History of Lower Limb Injuries among Youth Basketball Athletes

Background

Lower limb injuries generate a significant health burden in basketball. Landing technique and ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion have been suggested as risk factors for lower limb injuries among youth athletes, but studies conducted specifically with basketball athletes are lacking.

Hypothesis/Purpose

To describe the period prevalence of basketball-related injuries and to examine the association of the history of lower limb injuries with landing technique and ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion asymmetry among youth basketball athletes.

Study Design

Cross-Sectional Survey.

Methods

Youth basketball athletes were asked to complete a paper-based survey to investigate personal characteristics, training characteristics and their three-month history of basketball-related injuries. The Landing Error Scoring System and the Weight-Bearing Lunge Test were used to evaluate landing technique and ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion. Binary logistic regression was utilized to examine the association of the investigated variables with the presence of history of lower limb injuries among the athletes.

Results

A total of 534 athletes participated. The three-month prevalence of basketball-related injuries was 23.2% (95% CI 19.7 - 27), and the majority of the reported injuries affected the lower limbs (69.7%; n=110). Sprains were the most frequent type of injury (29.1%; n=46), and the ankle (30.4%; n=48) and knee (21.5%; n=34) were the most affected anatomic locations. Landing technique (p = 0.105) and ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion asymmetry (p = 0.529) were not associated with the history of lower limb injuries.

Conclusion

The three-month prevalence of basketball-related injuries was 23.2%. Although ankle sprains were the most frequent injury, landing technique and ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion asymmetry were not associated with the history of lower limb injuries among youth basketball athletes.

Level of Evidence

3.

Epidemiology of Pediatric Gymnastics Injuries Reported in US Emergency Departments: Sex- and Age-Based Injury Patterns

Background:

Despite increasing participation rates in youth gymnastics, the majority of epidemiologic literature focuses on older elite athletes or stratifies athletes by level of competition.

Hypothesis:

The authors hypothesized that sex- and age-based patterns in youth gymnastics–related injuries exist, which are otherwise overlooked in an unstratified population.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

Publicly available injury data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System were collected on pediatric gymnastics injuries presenting to emergency departments in the United States. Participation data from the National Sporting Goods Association were used to calculate national injury incidence rates in 7- to 11-year-olds (childhood) and 12- to 17-year-olds (adolescence) from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2018. Z tests were conducted for the comparison of injury rates between girls and boys within each age group and for overall injury rate across age groups.

Results:

Girls participated in gymnastics at a frequency 6.5 times that of boys in childhood and 13.5 times that of boys in adolescence. An estimated 72,542 youth gymnastics–related injuries were reported in US emergency departments each year. A large proportion (61.3%) occurred in childhood, with female predominance in both age groups. Overall, there was no difference in weighted annual injury rate (injuries per 100,000 athlete-days per year) by age group (6.9 [childhood] vs 8.8 [adolescence]; P = .19) or sex (7.4 [girls] vs 8.1 [boys]; P = .65). In adolescence, boys were more likely than girls to experience injury (16.47 vs 8.2; P = .003). Wrist and lower arm fractures were more common in childhood than adolescence (1.07 vs 0.43; P = .002) and specifically in girls (childhood vs adolescence, 1.06 vs 0.37; P = .001). Ankle injuries and concussions were more common in adolescence vs childhood (P = .01 and .0002).

Conclusion:

Upper extremity injuries predominated among childhood gymnasts, particularly girls. In adolescence, girls and boys experienced increases in concussions and foot and ankle injuries. Although representing a lower overall number of training gymnasts as compared with girls, adolescent boys experience a higher rate of injuries overall.

Positional Differences in Physique, Physical Strength, and Lower Extremity Stability in Korean Male Elite High School Basketball Athletes

No studies have measured the physical strength and lower extremity stability of elite male high school basketball players. This study aimed to measure the physique, physical strength, and lower extremity stability of such athletes in Korea and analyze the differences according to their play positions. Overall, 204 male elite basketball players participated and were classified as guard (n = 97), forward (n = 69), and center (n = 38) according to their main playing position. All sub-variables of physique were significantly higher in the forward and center groups than in the guard group, and were significantly higher in the center group than in the forward group. Strength was significantly higher in the forward and center groups than in the guard group. Agility and speed were significantly faster in the guard group than in the forward and center groups. Y-balance analysis showed that the composite score of both feet tended to be higher in the order of center, forward, and guard, and it was significantly higher in the guard group than in the center group. These results could be used as basic data for selecting players, determining positions, and setting specific training goals for players of each position to improve physical strength and prevent injuries.

Epidemiology of Pediatric Basketball Injuries Presenting to Emergency Departments: Sex- and Age-Based Patterns

Background:

There is limited epidemiologic data on pediatric basketball injuries and the comparison of these injuries before and after adolescence and between male and female athletes.

Purpose:

To assess common sex- and age-based injury patterns in pediatric basketball players.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

Injury data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) and participation data from the National Sporting Goods Association were used to complete this study. Data on pediatric basketball injuries between January 2012 and December 2018 in patients aged 7 to 11 years (childhood) and 12 to 17 years (adolescence) were extracted and used to calculate national injury incidence rates with 95% CIs. Sex and age group patterns were examined utilizing Pearson chi-square tests. Z tests were conducted for the comparison of injury rates between female and male athletes in each age group and overall injury rate across age groups.

Results:

An average of 9582 basketball injuries were reported annually in the NEISS, which calculated to an annual national estimate of 294,920 injuries. The most common diagnoses were ankle strain/sprain (17.7%), finger strain/sprain/fracture (12.1%), concussion/head injury (9.4%), knee strain/sprain (4.5%), and facial laceration (3.3%). There was a significant increase in injury prevalence in adolescents (12- to 17-year-old category: 238,678 injuries per year) when compared with childhood (7- to 11-year-old category: 56,242 injuries per year) (P < .0001). Concussions/head injuries occurred at a high rate in childhood, second only to finger strain/sprain/fracture, and at a similar rate in females and males (injuries per 100,000 athlete-days: 4.9 [95% CI, 3.1-6.7] vs. 5.9 [4.3-7.5], respectively; P = .41). From childhood to adolescence, injury prevalence increased for all areas and across both sexes, except for female finger strain/sprain/fracture; however, the rate of increase for concussion/head injuries and knee injuries was significantly higher in female compared with male athletes (P < .0001 for both). In adolescents, ankle injuries were the most common injury overall.

Conclusion:

Ankle injuries continue to be the most predominant pediatric basketball injury. However, disproportionate rates of both knee and concussion/head injuries in female athletes during adolescent basketball are of concern and have implications for injury prevention.

When puberty strikes: Longitudinal changes in cutting kinematics in 172 high-school female athletes

OBJECTIVES

Young female athletes involved in high-speed cutting and change-of-direction sports are particularly susceptible to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Little is known if maturational changes in cutting technique contribute to the increased injury risk. Our objective was to examine longitudinal changes in cutting kinematics in female athletes as they matured through puberty.

DESIGN

Longitudinal cohort study METHODS: High school female athletes (n=172) performed an unanticipated 45° cutting task in the biomechanics laboratory across two or more pubertal stages. Pubertal stages were classified using a modified Pubertal Maturational Observational Scale (pre-, mid-, or post-pubertal stages). Generalized linear mixed models were used to compare kinematics across pubertal stages.

RESULTS

As girls matured through puberty, they displayed a decrease in sagittal-plane hip (1.8-2.6°, p<0.03) and knee range-of-motion (ROM) (2.7-2.9°, p≤0.01), and decreased peak hip (2.9-3.2°, p≤0.02) and knee flexion angles (2.7-2.9°, p≤0.01), which is indicative of greater quadriceps dominance. Peak knee abduction angles also increased as girls progressed through puberty (0.9-1.4°, p≤0.02), suggesting greater ligament dominance. In terms of trunk dominance, there were mixed findings with a decrease in trunk frontal- (2.5-5.7°, p≤0.03) and sagittal-plane ROM (2.0°, p≤0.01), but an increase in trunk transverse-plane ROM (2.8-3.6°, p≤0.02) observed as girls mature. Other significant changes in cutting technique were decreased peak trunk flexion (3.8-7.8°, p≤0.01), and decreased hip flexion (2.9-3.3°, p≤0.02) and knee flexion angles (2.0-3.0°, p≤0.03) at initial contact, suggesting a more upright and stiffer cutting posture.

CONCLUSIONS

As girls mature through puberty, there is a change in cutting strategy characterized by greater quadriceps and ligament dominance.

Preseason functional testing in young basketball players: asymmetries and intercorrelations

[Purpose] The present study aimed to examine the existence and degree of possible asymmetries of functional test performance and their intercorrelations in the lower extremities of young basketball players. [Participants and Methods] Twenty-seven healthy male basketball players (age: 15.52 ± 1.37 years) were examined for the symmetric function of their lower extremities using triple hop for distance tests in the sagittal and frontal plane (medial-lateral), the Y-balance test and a vertical jump test. [Results] Participants exhibited statistically significant side-to-side differences in only the medial triple hop test, as they jumped further on their non-dominant for stability lower limb. No other asymmetries were observed in the rest of the functional tests. Significant correlations were also indicated between the vertical jumptest and the three directions of the triple hop test for both lower limbs. [Conclusion] Our findings proved that young basketball players present a symmetrical picture of functional performance, as revealed by the evaluation of various functional tests. The only significant asymmetric adaptation observed in the medial triple hop test will have to be strengthened by future studies to be implemented in injury prevention programs.

Proximal Interphalangeal Hyperextension Injuries in Children: The Development of a Clinical Decision Guide

OBJECTIVE

To develop a clinical decision guide for the diagnosis and treatment of hyperextension injuries of long fingers.

STUDY DESIGN

Consecutive patients age <16 years (n = 300) with an acute proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint hyperextension injury were included. High-risk and low-risk measures for severe injury were established with a standardized clinical examination and anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the injured finger. Four clinical variables were assessed: location of pain; swelling and bruising, stability, and mobility. Pathological radiographic findings were compiled, and the risk of late complications was analyzed. The predictive value of the clinical examination in the identification of low-risk injuries was assessed.

RESULTS

The majority (67%) of children consulting for a hyperextension finger trauma did not have a fracture. No child with a low-risk clinical examination had a subsequent high-risk diagnosis (eg, relevant intra-articular fracture, dislocation). Among 64 clinical high-risk diagnoses only 12 significant fractures were found.

CONCLUSION

Treatment decisions after PIP hyperextension injuries can be based on a clinical examination using a standardized evaluation protocol. Application of the clinical decision guide presented here has a sensitivity of 100% to rule out a significant injury. Present results showed that the majority of radiographs currently performed are avoidable. Once the decision rule is validated, its clinical application will improve patient care, reduce waiting times in emergency departments, avoid unnecessary radiation exposure, and possibly reduce costs.

Ankle Sprains in the National Basketball Association, 2013-2014 Through 2016-2017

BACKGROUND

Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries in basketball. Despite this, the incidence and setting of ankle sprains among elite basketball players are not well described.

PURPOSE

To describe the epidemiology of ankle sprains among National Basketball Association (NBA) players.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

All players on an NBA roster for ≥1 NBA game (preseason, regular season, or playoffs) during the 2013-14 through 2016-17 seasons were included. Data were collected with the NBA electronic medical record system. All NBA teams used the electronic medical record continuously throughout the study period to record comprehensive injury data, including onset, mechanism, setting, type, and time lost. Game incidence rates were calculated per 1000 player-games and per 10,000 player-minutes of participation, stratified by demographic and playing characteristics.

RESULTS

There were 796 ankle sprains among 389 players and 2341 unique NBA player-seasons reported in the league from 2013-14 through 2016-17. The overall single-season risk of ankle sprain was 25.8% (95% CI, 23.9%-28.0%). The majority of ankle sprains occurred in games (n = 565, 71.0%) and involved a contact mechanism of injury (n = 567, 71.2%). Most ankle sprains were lateral (n = 638, 80.2%). The incidence of ankle sprain among players with a history of prior ankle sprain in the past year was 1.41 times (95% CI, 1.13-1.74) the incidence of those without a history of ankle sprain in the past year (P = .002). Fifty-six percent of ankle sprains did not result in any NBA games missed (n = 443); among those that did, players missed a median of 2 games (interquartile range, 1-4) resulting in a cumulative total of 1467 missed player-games over the 4-season study period.

CONCLUSION

Ankle sprains affect approximately 26% of NBA players on average each season and account for a large number of missed NBA games in aggregate. Younger players and players with a history of ankle sprain have elevated rates of incident ankle sprains in games, highlighting the potential benefit for integrating injury prevention programs into the management of initial sprains. Research on basketball- and ankle-specific injury prevention strategies could provide benefits.

The 'Sequence of Prevention' for musculoskeletal injuries among recreational basketballers: a systematic review of the scientific literature

OBJECTIVE

Currently, there is no overview of the incidence and (basketball-specific) risk factors of musculoskeletal injuries among recreational basketball players, nor any insight into the effect of preventive measures on the incidence of basketball injuries. This study aimed to gather systematically the scientific evidence on the incidence, prevalence, aetiology and preventive measures for musculoskeletal injuries among recreational basketball players.

METHODS

Highly sensitive search strategies were built based on three groups of keywords (and related search terms). Two electronic databases were searched, namely Medline (biomedical literature) via Pubmed, and SPORTDiscus (sports and sports medicine literature) via EBSCOhost.

RESULTS

The incidence of musculoskeletal injuries among recreational basketball players ranged from 0.0047 injuries per 1,000 athlete-exposures (AE) for dental injuries to 10.1 injuries per 1000 AE for overall injuries during match play. Significant risk factors for injuries were defending, postural sway, high vertical ground reaction force during jumping and weight >75 kg. All prevention studies have shown to have a significant effect on reducing the risk of injury ranging from an odds ratio (95% confidence interval (CI)) of 0.175 (0.049-0.626) for training injuries and a relative risk (95% CI) of 0.83 (0.57-1.19) achieved with FIFA 11+ prevention exercises and sport-specific balance training, relatively.

CONCLUSION

In order to gain insight in the aetiology of basketball-specific injuries and consequently facilitate the development of preventive strategies, more high quality basketball-specific and injury-specific studies among recreational basketball players are needed.

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION IN BRAZIL'S PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM

ABSTRACT Introduction: Several studies have reported on the epidemiology of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) in Europe and North America; however, there is currently no data relating to Brazil. Objective: To describe the incidence of ACLR in Brazil and investigate temporal trends and differences between age and sex groups. Methods: All reported ACLR cases in the public hospital system between January 2008 and December 2014 were extracted from the Information Technology Department of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Linear regression analysis was used to assess changes in ACLR incidence in the overall population and among sex and age groups, hospitalization time, and health care costs. Results: A total of 48,241 ACLR were reported from 2008-2014 with an overall incidence of 3.49 per 100,000 persons/year. Males accounted for 82% of the procedures. The incidence of ACLR increased by 56% among males (p=0.01) and by 112% among females (p=0.001). The mean hospitalization time decreased from 2.4 days in 2008 to 1.8 day in 2014 (R2 = 0.883, p= 0.002). The total cost across all years was US$56 million, with a mean of US$1,145 per ACLR. Conclusion: Although the total incidence of ACLR in Brazil is lower compared to other countries, it has increased over the years, especially in females. The creation of an ACLR registry is necessary in the future, for more accurate control and new investigations.

Trends in paediatric sports-related injuries presenting to US emergency departments, 2001-2013

This descriptive epidemiology study describes trends in paediatric sports-related injuries resulting from 21 selected sports presenting to US emergency departments (EDs) over a 13-year period. The study was a retrospective study using data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) for years 2001-2013. Inclusion criteria included people in the NEISS for injuries related to one of the 21 selected sports and between the ages of 5 and 18 years. Frequencies and linear regressions were calculated using provided sample weights. The results indicated there was a statistically significant increase of 10 010 nationally estimated selected sports-related injuries per year. Football, basketball, soccer and baseball resulted in 74.7% of the total national estimate for sports-related injuries presenting to US EDs for 2001-2013 for children aged 5-18 years. The results indicate that the number of paediatric sports-related injuries treated in US EDs has increased annually from 2001 to 2013.

Incidence of Patients With Knee Strain and Sprain Occurring at Sports or Recreation Venues and Presenting to United States Emergency Departments

CONTEXT

Knee injuries account for a substantial percentage of all athletic injuries. The relative rates of knee injury for a variety of sports by sex and age need to be understood so we can better allocate resources, such as athletic trainers, to properly assess and treat injuries and reduce injury risk.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the epidemiology of patients with sport-related knee strain and sprain presenting to US emergency departments from 2002 to 2011.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Using the Consumer Products Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System and the US Census Bureau, we extracted raw data to estimate national rates of patients with knee strain and sprain presenting to emergency departments.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

Participants were individuals sustaining a knee strain or sprain at sports or recreation venues and presenting to local emergency departments for treatment. We included 12 popular sports for males and 11 for females. Ages were categorized in six 5-year increments for ages 5 to 34 years and one 10-year increment for ages 35 to 44 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Incidence rates were calculated using weights provided by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System and reported with their 95% confidence intervals for sport, sex, and age.

RESULTS

Strain and sprain injury rates varied greatly by sport, sex, and age group. The highest injury rates occurred in football and basketball for males and in soccer and basketball for females. The most at-risk population was 15 to 19 years for both sexes.

CONCLUSIONS

Athletes experience different rates of knee strain and sprain according to sport, sex, and age. Increased employment of athletic trainers to care for the highest-risk populations, aged 10 to 19 years, is recommended to reduce emergency department use and implement injury-prevention practices.

Prevention of Lower Extremity Injuries in Basketball: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Context:

Lower extremity injuries are common in basketball, yet it is unclear how prophylactic interventions affect lower extremity injury incidence rates.

Objective:

To analyze the effectiveness of current lower extremity injury prevention programs in basketball athletes, focusing on injury rates of (1) general lower extremity injuries, (2) ankle sprains, and (3) anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears.

Data Sources:

PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials were searched in January 2015.

Study Selection:

Studies were included if they were randomized controlled or prospective cohort trials, contained a population of competitive basketball athletes, and reported lower extremity injury incidence rates specific to basketball players. In total, 426 individual studies were identified. Of these, 9 met the inclusion criteria. One other study was found during a hand search of the literature, resulting in 10 total studies included in this meta-analysis.

Study Design:

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Level of Evidence:

Level 2.

Data Extraction:

Details of the intervention (eg, neuromuscular vs external support), size of control and intervention groups, and number of injuries in each group were extracted from each study. Injury data were classified into 3 groups based on the anatomic diagnosis reported (general lower extremity injury, ankle sprain, ACL rupture).

Results:

Meta-analyses were performed independently for each injury classification. Results indicate that prophylactic programs significantly reduced the incidence of general lower extremity injuries (odds ratio [OR], 0.69; 95% CI, 0.57-0.85; P < 0.001) and ankle sprains (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.29-0.69; P < 0.001), yet not ACL ruptures (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.36-3.29; P = 0.87) in basketball athletes.

Conclusion:

In basketball players, prophylactic programs may be effective in reducing the risk of general lower extremity injuries and ankle sprains, yet not ACL injuries.

Overuse injuries in youth basketball and floorball

Background

The popularity of team sports is growing among young people. High training volume and intensity may predispose young athletes to overuse injuries. Research to date has tended to focus on acute injuries rather than overuse injuries. The purpose of this study was to examine the occurrence, nature, and severity of overuse injuries in youth basketball and floorball, with the hypothesis that overuse injuries are frequent in youth team sports.

Methods

The study comprised a total of 401 Finnish team sports athletes (207 basketball and 194 floorball players). The data were collected using a detailed questionnaire. The participants (mean age 15.8±1.9 years) responded to the questionnaire covering information on overuse injuries during the previous 12 months.

Results

A total of 190 overuse injuries was reported (97 in basketball and 93 in floorball). In both sports, most of the injuries involved the lower extremities (66% and 55% of all injuries in basketball and floorball, respectively). In basketball, the most commonly injured site was the knee (44 cases, 45%). In floorball, the most commonly injured sites were the lower back/pelvis (36 cases, 39%) and knee (32 cases, 34%). Overuse injuries caused an average time loss from full participation of 26±50 (median 7) days in basketball and 16±37 (median 5) days in floorball.

Conclusion

Overuse injuries are a common problem in youth team sports, and often cause long-term absence from full participation. The findings suggest that injury reduction and training load monitoring strategies are needed in the field. More research using explicit prospective data collection is needed to better understand the problem.

Do exercises used in injury prevention programmes modify cutting task biomechanics? A systematic review with meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Some injury prevention programmes aim to reduce the risk of ACL rupture. Although the most common athletic task leading to ACL rupture is cutting, there is currently no consensus on how injury prevention programmes influence cutting task biomechanics. To systematically review and synthesise the scientific literature regarding the influence of injury prevention programme exercises on cutting task biomechanics.

DESIGN

The three largest databases (Medline, EMBASE and CINAHL) were searched for studies that investigated the effect of injury prevention programmes on cutting task biomechanics. When possible meta-analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Across all studies, a total of 100 participants received exercises that are part of ACL injury prevention programmes and 76 participants served in control groups. Most studies evaluated variables associated with the quadriceps dominance theory. The meta-analysis revealed decreased lateral hamstrings electromyography activity (p ≤ 0.05) while single studies revealed decreased quadriceps and increased medial hamstrings activity and decreased peak knee flexion moment. Findings from single studies reported that ACL injury prevention exercises reduce neuromuscular deficits (knee valgus moment, lateral trunk leaning) associated with the ligament and trunk dominance theories, respectively. The programmes we analysed appear most effective when they emphasise individualised biomechanical technique correction and target postpubertal women.

CONCLUSIONS

The exercises used in injury prevention programmes have the potential to improve cutting task biomechanics by ameliorating neuromuscular deficits linked to ACL rupture, especially when they emphasise individualised biomechanical technique correction and target postpubertal female athletes.

Basketball injuries: caring for a basketball team

Basketball is a popular sport in North America and worldwide. Most injuries are lower extremity injuries to the ankle and knee. In this article, injuries common to basketball and, from our experience, injuries that escape injury surveillance systems are discussed from the physician and athletic trainer's perspective. Both treatment and prevention of injuries are discussed.