Injuries among Young Florida Athletes Playing Sports in Recreational Leagues

The purpose of this study was to identify the injury rates and mechanisms of sports injuries among 5-11-year-old athletes, and to provide preliminary guidance for decreasing injuries in this population. A total of 1511 athletes ages 5- 11 playing football, soccer, baseball and softball participated in our research. One certified athletic trainer (ATC) used Reporting Information Online (RIO) to collect the data on athletic exposure, injuries and injury mechanisms weekly during the 2016-2017 season in Hillsborough County, Florida. A total of 18 injuries occurred in practices or competitions. Football had the leading rate of injuries for both competitions and practices (1.18 and 0.68, per 1000 athlete-exposures respectively). Most injuries occurred during competition (66.7%) and the leading types of injuries were concussions (22.2%) and fractures (22.2%). The leading injury mechanisms were contact with another person (33.3%) and playing apparatus (33.3%). It is advantageous to have ATCs on site for initial injury evaluation and post injury management. Future studies should include additional study venues to provide more evidence on children’s sports injuries

Injuries and concussions among young children, ages 5-11, playing sports in recreational leagues in Florida.

BackgroundThe specific research aims of this study included: 1) Conduct an epidemiologic analysis of recreational sports injuries among 1500 children, ages 5-11 in Florida: and 2) Utilize the computerized pediatric concussion tool from ImPACT Applications, Inc. for baseline and follow-up testing to better understand these injuries. This research followed a prospective surveillance design utilizing a large cohort of children, ages, 5-11, who play recreational football, soccer, and baseball/softball in Florida. The study venue was a large athletic facility in Hillsborough County, Florida. The sports observed were soccer (girls' and boys'), baseball, softball, and football. Internal and external advisory boards were consulted throughout the study.MethodsCertified Athletic Trainers (ATCs) were hired to use High School Reporting Information Online (RIO) for injuries and the Ipad-administered pediatric concussion tool developed by ImPACT Applications, Inc for baseline/follow-up concussion data.ResultsOver the course of the project, 26 RIO-reported injuries were reported. Football and soccer produced the greatest rate of injuries. There were 12 concussions which comprised nearly half of all the RIO injuries (46%). We conducted 882 baseline concussion tests and 13 follow-up tests over the 2 years.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first time data have been collected and reported on sports injuries in the study population. Future studies built on these findings will allow for the development of targeted guidelines and interventions for coaches, players, and parents so sports injury-related morbidity and mortality decrease in our youngest athletes

Integration of sex and gender in interventions by students in ergonomics

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