Prevention of Lateral Ankle Sprains

et al. 2021

Context Frequent inspection of sports-related injury epidemiology among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) women's basketball student-athletes is valuable for identifying injury-related patterns. Background Emerging patterns in epidemiology of NCAA women's basketball injuries are unknown though general sports medicine practices, and playing rules and regulations have evolved in recent years. Methods Athlete exposures (AEs) and injury incidence data were reported to the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program between 2014–2015 and 2018–2019. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to examine injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios (IRRs) were used to assess injury rate differences. Results Practice and competition injury rates were 5.93 and 10.35 per 1000 AEs, respectively. Preseason injury rates were higher than regular (IRR = 1.41; 95% CI = 1.31, 1.53) and postseason (IRR = 3.12; 95% CI = 2.39, 4.07). Ankle sprains (14.3%), concussions (7.5%), and anterior cruciate ligament tears (2.5%) were the most commonly reported injuries. Summary Higher rates of practice and competition injuries, as well as ankle sprains, were observed relative to previous reports; continuous monitoring is necessary to identify potential contributing factors to these trends.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Basketball: 2014–2015 Through 2018–2019

Lempke

et al. 2021

“…Previous researchers have shown that lateral ligament complex tears are common in this group. 16 Although some ankle injury prevention strategies have shown promising results, [17][18][19][20][21] athlete behavior and preferences are important considerations in the development of such strategies; 22 and it may be critical to further prioritize the primary prevention of such injuries in this group considering the incidence trajectories observed here. Similarly, concussions rates also sharply increased during 2015-2016 to 2018-2019.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Soccer: 2014–2015 Through 2018–2019

Morris

et al. 2021

Context The National Collegiate Athletic Association held the first women's soccer championship in 1982; sponsorship and participation have greatly increased since. Background Routine examinations of athlete injuries are important for identifying emerging temporal patterns. Methods Exposure and injury data collected in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program during the 2014–2015 through 2018–2019 seasons were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios were used to examine differential injury rates. Results The overall injury rate was 8.33 per 1000 athlete-exposures. Lateral ligament complex tears (ankle sprains) (8.6%), concussions (8.3%), and quadriceps tears (5.0%) were the most commonly reported injuries. Rates of lateral ligament complex tears followed an increasing trajectory during the study period, whereas quadriceps tear rates fluctuated during the early years, and concussion rates decreased then increased. Summary The findings of this study were mostly consistent with existing evidence; notable temporal patterns were observed with regard to lateral ligament complex tears and concussions.

“…Previous researchers have also shown that ankle sprains are among the most common injuries observed in this population. 2,7 Some ankle injury prevention strategies (both prophylactic support-based and exercise-based) have been previously shown to be efficacious in the primary prevention of ankle sprains, [15][16][17][18][19] and it may be relevant to consider the wider applicability of such prevention strategies in this population in the future. However, further studies of lateral ligament complex tears (ankle sprains) in this population are needed to inform such efforts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Soccer: 2014–2015 Through 2018–2019

Morris

et al. 2021

Context The National Collegiate Athletic Association has sponsored men's soccer programs since 1959, and the popularity of the sport has grown over time. Background Routine examinations of athlete injuries are important for identifying emerging temporal patterns. Methods Exposure and injury data collected in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program from 2014–2015 through 2018–2019 were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios were used to examine differential injury rates. Results The overall injury rate was 8.51 per 1000 athlete exposures. Lateral ligament complex tears (ankle sprains) (9.2%), hamstring tears (7.0%), and concussions (5.2%) were the most commonly reported injuries. Rates of lateral ligament complex tears remained stable from 2014–2015 through 2018–2019, whereas hamstring tear rates decreased and concussion rates increased. Summary The findings of this study were in line with the existing epidemiological evidence, although notable temporal patterns were observed. Incidence trajectories of commonly observed injuries warrant particular attention in the future.