Background: Foot and ankle injuries comprise a significant proportion of all injuries sustained by National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes. In particular, sports that combine jumping and rapid changes in direction are associated with increased lower extremity injuries. Purpose: To describe the epidemiology of foot and ankle injuries in men’s and women’s jumping sports, including NCAA men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, and women’s gymnastics, during the 2009-2010 through 2013-2014 seasons. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Injury-surveillance data were obtained from the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program for the 2009-2010 through 2013-2014 seasons. Injuries were examined by mechanism, activity during injury, and participation restriction time. Injury rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs), injury rate ratios, and risk ratios with 95% CIs were calculated. Reported sex differences were calculated for men’s and women’s basketball. All 95% CIs not containing 1.0 were considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 1136 players sustained foot and ankle injuries (483 male and 653 female) over 612,680 AEs. These injuries resulted in a combined rate of 1.85 per 1000 AEs (95% CI, 1.75-1.97). Ankle sprains were the most common injury (63.7%), with lateral ligamentous complex injuries making up 77.1% of all ankle sprains. The most common foot injury varied based on sport and sex. Ankle injury rates were higher in male versus female basketball players (injury rate ratio, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.13-1.57]), but foot injury rates did not differ. Among basketball and volleyball players, player contact during jumping was the most common injury mechanism. Female gymnasts had higher overuse injury rates than other athletes (0.49/1000 AEs [95% CI, 0.30-0.74]; P < .002). Overall, female basketball players were 1.81 times more likely to sustain an overuse injury than male basketball players (95% CI, 1.02-3.20; P = .02). Conclusion: The most common foot and ankle injury sustained in collegiate jumping sports was a lateral ligamentous complex ankle sprain. Injury-prevention programs focusing on ankle flexibility, strength, and proprioception may help to alleviate the injury burden and lessen severity. Improving the anticipation of contact during jumping and landing may reduce injury rates and increase player safety. The increased prevalence of overuse injuries in female collegiate athletes competing in jumping sports necessitates further investigation to reduce injury rates through prevention and training programs.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of foot and ankle injuries in men’s and women’s NCAA basketball, women’s volleyball, and women’s gymnastics during the 2009-2010 through 2013-2014 seasons. Methods: Injury surveillance data was obtained from the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program (ISP) for the 2009-2010 through 2013-2014 seasons. Injuries were examined by mechanism, activity during injury, participation restriction time, and recurrence. Injury rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs), injury rate ratios (IRRs), and risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Reported sex differences were calculated for men’s and women’s basketball. All 95% confidence intervals not containing 1.0 were considered statistically significant. Results: During the study period, 1136 players sustained foot and ankle injuries (483 male, 653 female) over 612,680 AEs. In total, these injuries resulted in a combined rate of 1.85/1000 athlete-exposures (AEs; 95% CI 1.75 -1.97). Ankle sprains were the most common injury overall (63.7%), with lateral ligamentous complex (LLC) injuries comprising 77.1% of all ankle sprains. The most common foot injury varied based on sport and sex. Ankle injury rates were higher in male vs female basketball players (IRR=1.33, 95% CI 1.13 -1.57), but foot injury rates did not differ. Foot injuries occurred at half the rate of ankle injuries, but were significantly more likely to be severe (time loss over 30+ days) (IRR=3.37, 95% CI 1.91-5.949). Among basketball and volleyball athletes, player contact was the most common mechanism of injury and occurred most often while engaging in team jumping activities (rebounding, shooting, blocking, spiking). Surface contact was the most common mechanism in gymnasts. Female gymnasts had higher chronic injury rates than all other sports examined (0.485/1000 AEs, 0.304-0.735, p<0.002). Overall, female basketball players were 1.98 times more likely to suffer an overuse injury than male athletes (95% CI 1.14-3.45, p=0.005). Conclusion: Athletes participating in jumping sports have a higher rate of lateral ligamentous complex ankle sprains than other NCAA sports. Deterring player contact during jumping and landing by way of coaching and/or rule changes may reduce injury rates and improve player safety. The increased prevalence of chronic injuries in female collegiate athletes competing in jumping sports necessitates further investigation in order to identify opportunities to reduce injury rates through prevention and training programs. [Table: see text]
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