The Influence of Previous Injury History on Health and Fitness Outcomes in Junior High School Students

Abstract

Objective: To assess the influence of previous sport and recreational injury on body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, musculoskeletal strength, and dynamic balance in junior high school students (ages 11-16).Methods: Cross-sectional study design. Participants included 1,039 students from six junior high schools in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Demographics, injury history, and sport participation over the previous 12 months were collected using a questionnaire. Outcome measures included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, predicted VO 2 max, vertical jump, eyes closed dynamic balance, and star excursion balance test reach distances.Results: Previously injured participants had significantly higher BMI and left foot balance times compared to uninjured participants. Exploratory analysis results suggest that those who sustained two injuries had a significantly increased BMI and waist circumference compared to those who sustained no injuries. Conclusions:Participants with a history of injury demonstrated more unhealthy body composition, but better left foot dynamic balance compared to uninjured participants.iii Acknowledgements