Volume 56: Issue 7

As sports injury epidemiologists, we understand the value of public health surveillance and its role in informing injury-prevention efforts. Sports medicine researchers have previously described how large-scale surveillance efforts are a critical first step in the sequence of injury prevention and have depicted injury prevention in sports medicine as a feedback loop between such large-scale efforts and smaller, targeted initiatives.^1,2 Sports injury surveillance is a complex, multidimensional process involving many stakeholders (such as athletes, athletic trainers [ATs], and researchers) at various stages (during study design, reporting, data management and analysis, policy development, etc). We

Almost 15 years ago, the first epidemiology studies¹ based on National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) injury-surveillance data were published in the Journal of Athletic Training. In these reports, researchers detailed the injury rates and trends that occurred in intercollegiate athletics. The purpose of these reports was to provide the basis for athletic trainers to advance the recognition, rehabilitation, and prevention of injuries and illnesses related to athletic participation. Having a robust understanding of the foundational aspects of epidemiology is necessary for the ability to read, critique, and incorporate epidemiologic evidence into clinical practice, education, and research.

Background

Since 1982, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has collaborated with athletic trainers (ATs) to create the largest ongoing collegiate sports injury database in the world. This report provides an operational update of the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program (NCAA ISP) during the academic years 2014–2015 through 2018–2019.

Surveillance system structure

The NCAA ISP used a convenience sampling technique via a rolling recruitment model. The ATs at contributing institutions voluntarily submitted data into their respective electronic medical record systems; common data elements were pushed to and maintained by the Datalys Center. The ATs provided information about all team-related activities, even if no injury occurred during that activity, as well as detailed reports on each injury, including condition and circumstances.

Summary

The NCAA ISP has a long-standing role in supplying NCAA stakeholders with crucial injury surveillance data, playing a critical part in safeguarding student-athletes participating in collegiate sports.

Context

Women's cross-country is a thriving sport at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) level with over 1000 sponsored programs association-wide.

Background

Routine examinations of women's cross-country injuries are important for identifying emerging time trends in injury incidence and outcomes.

Methods

Exposure and injury data collected in the NCAA 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 3.96 per 1000 athlete-exposures. Most reported injuries were inflammatory conditions (33.6%), strains (17.7%), and fractures (9.1%). The most commonly reported injuries were medial tibial stress syndrome (10.0%) and lateral ligament complex tears (ankle sprains; 4.2%).

Summary

Findings of this study were not entirely consistent with existing evidence. Future studies are needed to examine the nature of inflammatory conditions and fractures in this population, as well as temporal patterns in commonly reported injuries.

Context

The National Collegiate Athletic Association has sponsored men's cross-country programs since 1938, and the sport has grown greatly in scope since then.

Background

Routine examinations of men's cross-country injuries are important for identifying emerging temporal patterns.

Methods

Exposure and injury data collected in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program during 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 4.01 per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs). Most reported injuries were inflammatory conditions (30.2%), strains (18.7%), and sprains (11.5%); rates of inflammatory conditions were highest in preseason. The most commonly reported injuries were lateral ligament complex tears (ankle sprains; 8.2%).

Summary

Findings of this study were not entirely consistent with existing evidence; continued monitoring of competition injury rates and rates of commonly reported injuries is needed beyond 2018–2019.

Reliability and Validity of the Functional Assessment of Neurocognition in Sport (FANS): A Paradigm Shift in Post-Concussion Return-to-Sport Decision-Making

Landon B. LempkePhD, ATC,

Benjamin L. BrettPhD, and

Douglas P. TerryPhD,ABPP