Our findings provide empirical data for the future study on mental health among collegiate athletes. Further studies on why female and freshmen athletes are at increased risk of experiencing symptoms of depression are also warranted.

We studied midfoot sprains in collegiate football players to define and document incidence, mechanisms, injury patterns, and disabilities. Twenty-three athletes with 24 injuries from 1987 through 1991, with a mean followup of 30.8 months, were identified for the study. The injuries occurred in 4% of the football players per year with offensive linemen incurring 29.2% of the injuries. The location of maximal tenderness on physical examination was an important prognostic indicator such that injuries with medial and global midfoot tenderness to palpation had the longest time loss from participation and time until full healing. Lateral midfoot sprains required short periods of disability, and players were able to return to participation with the use of an orthosis. Nineteen athletes with 20 injuries responded to a questionnaire. Four players reported residual functional problems. Only 1 of these players had to modify his recreational activities because of pain. The other players remained very active with only mild complaints of pain after high-demand activities. Midfoot sprains were associated with acute disability that required prolonged restriction from competition, but for most players the long-term residual problems were minor.

The PROMIS PF CAT correlates strongly with currently used patient-reported outcome measures of physical function and demonstrates no ceiling effects for patients with meniscal injury requiring surgery. It may be a reasonable alternative to more burdensome patient-reported outcome measures.

The results of this study, along with those of others, reinforce the importance of avoiding risk-prone pitching activities to prevent pitching-related injuries among youth pitchers.

There was and still is a statistically significant increase in spring practice injury risk. The 1998 rule change resulted in an even greater increase in spring practice injury risk. If the goal is to minimize the number of spring practice injuries, it will be best accomplished by limiting the number of scrimmages and limited-contact sessions.