Descriptive Epidemiology of Collegiate Men's Football Injuries: National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System, 1988–1989 Through 2003–2004

Objective: To review 16 years of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) injury surveillance data for men's football and identify potential areas for injury prevention initiatives

Echocardiographic measurements of aortic root diameter (ARD) in collegiate football Athletes at pre-participation evaluation

BackgroundSome remodelling of the aortic root may be expected to occur with exercise but can already vary due to different body sizes, compositions and genetic predispositions. Attributing the cause of borderline aortic root diameter (ARD) values to either physiological or pathological conditions in American college football athletes is difficult as there is very limited normal reference values in this population. Body surface area (BSA) specific norms are thought to be useful in other cardiac measurements of football athletes.MethodsA retrospective cohort review of pre-participation examination (PPE) transthoracic echocardiogram data from collegiate football athletes was performed. ARD was analysed by field position (linemen, n=137; non-linemen, n=238), race (black, n=216; white, n=158) and BSA for predictive value and associations. Values were compared with non-athlete norms, and collegiate football athlete-specific normal tables were created.ResultsOnly 2.7% of football athletes had ARD measurements above normal non-athlete reference values and the mean athlete ARD values were lower than non-athlete values. No athletes had an aortic root >40 mm or were disqualified due to underlying cardiac pathology. Univariate analyses indicated linemen position and increasing BSA was associated with larger values for ARD. BSA outperformed race in predicting ARD. Normal tables were created for ARD stratified by BSA group classification (low, average and high BSA). Proposed clinical cut-offs for normal and abnormal values are reported for raw echocardiograph metrics and their BSA indexed scores.ConclusionsNon-athlete reference values for ARD appear applicable for defining upper limits of normal for most collegiate football athletes. BSA-specific normal values may be helpful in interpreting results for athletes that exceed non-athlete norms

Descriptive Epidemiology of Collegiate Men's Football Injuries: National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System, 1988-1989 Through 2003-2004

Objective: To review 16 years of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) injury surveillance data for men’s football and identify potential areas for injury prevention initiatives. Background: Football is a high-velocity collision sport in which injuries are expected. Football tends to have one of the highest injury rates in sports. Epidemiologic data helps certified athletic trainers and other clinicians identify injury trends and patterns to appropriately design and institute injury prevention protocols and then measure their effects. Main Results: During the 16-year reporting period, about 19% of the Division I, II, and III NCAA institutions sponsoring football participated in the Injury Surveillance System. The results from the 16-year study period show little variation in the injury rates over time: games averaged 36 injuries per 1000 athlete-exposures (A-Es)\; fall practice, approximately 4 injuries per 1000 A-Es\; and spring practice, about 10 injuries per 1000 A-Es. The game injury rate was more than 9 times higher than\r\nthe in-season practice injury rate (35.90 versus 3.80 injuries per 1000 A-Es, rate ratio = 9.1, 95% confidence interval = 9.0, 9.2), and the spring practice injury rate was more than 2 times higher than the fall practice injury rate (9.62 versus 3.80 injuries per 1000 A-Es, rate ratio = 2.5, 95% confidence interval = 2.5, 2.6). The rate ratio for games versus fall practices was greatest for upper leg contusions (18.1 per 1000 A-Es), acromioclavicular joint sprains (14.0 per 1000 A-Es), knee internal derangements (13.4 per 1000 A-Es), ankle ligament sprains (12.0 per 1000 A-Es), and concussions (11.1 per 1000 A-Es).\r\nRecommendations: Football is a complex sport that requires a range of skills performed by athletes with a wide variety of body shapes and types. Injury risks are greatest during games. Thus, injury prevention measures should focus on position-specific activities to reduce the injury rate. As equipment technology improves for the helmet, shoulder pads, and other protective devices, appropriate injury surveillance procedures should be performed to determine the effect of the new equipment on injury rates. A consistent evaluation of injury trends and patterns will assist decision makers in designing injury prevention\r\ntechniques in areas that warrant the greatest attention and suggesting\r\nrule changes and modifications based on the data. Originaly published Journal of Athletic Training, Vol. 42, No. 2, Apr 200

Descriptive Epidemiology of Collegiate Men's Football Injuries: National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System 1988-1989 Through 2003-2004

Objective: To review 16 years of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) injury surveillance data for men’s football and identify potential areas for injury prevention initiatives. Background: Football is a high-velocity collision sport in which injuries are expected. Football tends to have one of the highest injury rates in sports. Epidemiologic data helps certified athletic trainers and other clinicians identify injury trends and patterns to appropriately design and institute injury prevention protocols and then measure their effects. Main Results: During the 16-year reporting period about 19% of the Division I II and III NCAA institutions sponsoring football participated in the Injury Surveillance System. The results from the 16-year study period show little variation in the injury rates over time: games averaged 36 injuries per 1000 athlete-exposures (A-Es); fall practice approximately 4 injuries per 1000 A-Es; and spring practice about 10 injuries per 1000 A-Es. The game injury rate was more than 9 times higher than he in-season practice injury rate (35.90 versus 3.80 injuries per 1000 A-Es rate ratio = 9.1 95% confidence interval = 9.0 9.2) and the spring practice injury rate was more than 2 times higher than the fall practice injury rate (9.62 versus 3.80 injuries per 1000 A-Es rate ratio = 2.5 95% confidence interval = 2.5 2.6). The rate ratio for games versus fall practices was greatest for upper leg contusions (18.1 per 1000 A-Es) acromioclavicular joint sprains (14.0 per 1000 A-Es) knee internal derangements (13.4 per 1000 A-Es) ankle ligament sprains (12.0 per 1000 A-Es) and concussions (11.1 per 1000 A-Es). ecommendations: Football is a complex sport that requires a range of skills performed by athletes with a wide variety of body shapes and types. Injury risks are greatest during games. Thus injury prevention measures should focus on position-specific activities to reduce the injury rate. As equipment technology improves for the helmet shoulder pads and other protective devices appropriate injury surveillance procedures should be performed to determine the effect of the new equipment on injury rates. A consistent evaluation of injury trends and patterns will assist decision makers in designing injury prevention echniques in areas that warrant the greatest attention and suggesting ule changes and modifications based on the data. Originaly published Journal of Athletic Training Vol. 42 No. 2 Apr 200