Determinants of Sports Injury in Young Female Swedish Competitive Figure Skaters

Introduction: Although figure skating attracts several hundred thousand participants worldwide, there is little knowledge about physical health and sports injuries among young skaters. The present study aimed to describe the health status of a geographically defined Swedish population of licensed competitive figure skaters and to examine injury determinants.Methods: All licensed competitive skaters in the southeastern region of Sweden were in April 2019 invited to participate in a cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire. Multiple binary logistic regression was used for the examination of injury determinants. The primary outcome measure was the 1-year prevalence of a severe sports injury episode (time loss >21 days). The secondary outcome measure was the point prevalence of an ongoing injury. The determinants analyzed were age, skating level, relative energy deficiency indicators, and training habits.Results: In total, 142 (36%) skaters participated, 137 (96%) girls [mean (SD) age: 12.9 (SD 3.0) years]. Participating boys (n = 5) were excluded from further analysis. The 1-year prevalence of a severe sports injury episode was 31%. The most common injury locations for these injuries were the knee (25%), ankle (20%), and hip/groin (15%). In the multiple model, having sustained a severe injury episode was associated with older age (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.4; p = 0.002) and an increased number of skipped meals per week (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0–1.3; p = 0.014). The point prevalence of an ongoing injury episode was 19%. The most common locations were the knee (24%), ankle (24%), and foot (24%). Having an ongoing injury episode was associated with older age (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2–1.7; p < 0.001) and an increased number of skipped meals per week (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0–1.3; p = 0.049).Conclusion: One-third of young female Swedish competitive figure skaters had sustained a severe injury episode during the past year, and a fifth reported an ongoing episode. Older age and an increased number of skipped meals per week were associated with a sports injury episode. Long-term monotonous physical loads with increasing intensity and insufficient energy intake appear to predispose for injury in young female figure skaters. Further examination of injury determinants among competitive figure skaters is highly warranted

Nuances in key constructs need attention in research on mental health and psychiatric disorders in sports medicine

The WHO1 defines mental health as ‘a state of well-being in which an individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community’ (p. 12). According to this definition, mental health is more than a lack of symptoms of mental ill-being or disorders. Variations in mood and perception of symptoms, also with aversive valence, may occur during regular participation in competitive sports. This editorial discusses the importance of acknowledging nuances in studies of mental health and psychiatric disorders in sports medicine and calls for a deepened understanding of ‘mental health’ and how various mental health symptoms and disorders are reported

A cross-sectional study of anxiety and depression caseness in female competitive figure skaters in Sweden

Objectives Little is known about figure skaters’ mental health. This study aimed to describe anxiety and depression caseness (defined as a screening condition qualifying for psychiatric examination) in competitive figure skaters and analyse factors associated with such caseness.Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in April 2019 among all competitive figure skaters in the south-eastern region of Sweden (N=400). The primary outcomes were anxiety caseness, measured using the short-form Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and depression caseness, measured using the WHO-5 index. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to determine the association between anxiety caseness and explanatory factors.Results In total, 36% (n=142) of the invited skaters participated. Only females (n=137), mean age 12.9 (SD 3.0) years) were selected for analysis. Of the participating skaters, 47% displayed anxiety caseness and 10% depression caseness. Overweight body image perception (OR 5.9; 95% CI 2.0 to 17.6; p=0.001) and older age (OR 1.2; 95% CI 1.1 to 1.4; p=0.005) were associated with anxiety caseness. Skaters reporting no caseness were younger than those reporting only anxiety caseness (mean age difference −1.9 years; 95% CI −3.1 to −0.7; p=0.001) or anxiety and depression caseness (OR −3.5 years; 95% CI −5.6 to −1.5 years; pConclusion Anxiety caseness was associated with overweight body image perception and older age in female competitive figure skaters. Older skaters reported generally worse mental health. More research on the mental health of figure skaters is warranted, considering comorbidity and focusing on those needing further assessment and support

Determinants of Sports Injury in Young Female Swedish Competitive Figure Skaters

Introduction: Although figure skating attracts several hundred thousand participants worldwide, there is little knowledge about physical health and sports injuries among young skaters. The present study aimed to describe the health status of a geographically defined Swedish population of licensed competitive figure skaters and to examine injury determinants. Methods: All licensed competitive skaters in the southeastern region of Sweden were in April 2019 invited to participate in a cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire. Multiple binary logistic regression was used for the examination of injury determinants. The primary outcome measure was the 1-year prevalence of a severe sports injury episode (time loss &amp;gt;21 days). The secondary outcome measure was the point prevalence of an ongoing injury. The determinants analyzed were age, skating level, relative energy deficiency indicators, and training habits. Results: In total, 142 (36%) skaters participated, 137 (96%) girls [mean (SD) age: 12.9 (SD 3.0) years]. Participating boys (n = 5) were excluded from further analysis. The 1-year prevalence of a severe sports injury episode was 31%. The most common injury locations for these injuries were the knee (25%), ankle (20%), and hip/groin (15%). In the multiple model, having sustained a severe injury episode was associated with older age (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.4; p = 0.002) and an increased number of skipped meals per week (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0-1.3; p = 0.014). The point prevalence of an ongoing injury episode was 19%. The most common locations were the knee (24%), ankle (24%), and foot (24%). Having an ongoing injury episode was associated with older age (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2-1.7; p &amp;lt; 0.001) and an increased number of skipped meals per week (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0-1.3; p = 0.049). Conclusion: One-third of young female Swedish competitive figure skaters had sustained a severe injury episode during the past year, and a fifth reported an ongoing episode. Older age and an increased number of skipped meals per week were associated with a sports injury episode. Long-term monotonous physical loads with increasing intensity and insufficient energy intake appear to predispose for injury in young female figure skaters. Further examination of injury determinants among competitive figure skaters is highly warranted.Funding Agencies|Swedish Figure Skating Association; Swedish Southeastern Regional Figure Skating Federation</p

A cross-sectional study of anxiety and depression caseness in female competitive figure skaters in Sweden

ObjectivesLittle is known about figure skaters mental health. This study aimed to describe anxiety and depression caseness (defined as a screening condition qualifying for psychiatric examination) in competitive figure skaters and analyse factors associated with such caseness.MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed in April 2019 among all competitive figure skaters in the south-eastern region of Sweden (N=400). The primary outcomes were anxiety caseness, measured using the short-form Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and depression caseness, measured using the WHO-5 index. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to determine the association between anxiety caseness and explanatory factors.ResultsIn total, 36% (n=142) of the invited skaters participated. Only females (n=137), mean age 12.9 (SD 3.0) years) were selected for analysis. Of the participating skaters, 47% displayed anxiety caseness and 10% depression caseness. Overweight body image perception (OR 5.9; 95% CI 2.0 to 17.6; p=0.001) and older age (OR 1.2; 95% CI 1.1 to 1.4; p=0.005) were associated with anxiety caseness. Skaters reporting no caseness were younger than those reporting only anxiety caseness (mean age difference -1.9 years; 95% CI -3.1 to -0.7; p=0.001) or anxiety and depression caseness (OR -3.5 years; 95% CI -5.6 to -1.5 years; p&amp;lt;0.001).ConclusionAnxiety caseness was associated with overweight body image perception and older age in female competitive figure skaters. Older skaters reported generally worse mental health. More research on the mental health of figure skaters is warranted, considering comorbidity and focusing on those needing further assessment and support