STICK ITT - Study to Increase Current Knowledge of Injuries in Trampoline and Tumbling
Date
2021-01-28
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Abstract
Objectives: To examine incidence rates, severity, characteristics, mechanism and potential risk factors for injury in competitive Trampoline and Tumbling (T&T) athletes ages 8 to 25 years. Methods: Competitive T&T athletes were recruited from across Canada to complete an online questionnaire (e.g., demographics, one-year injury history, injury type and location). Injury was defined as an injury that kept the athlete from T&T training and/or competing for more than one day and/or required medical attention. Univariate Poisson regression analyses were used to estimate incidence rates (IR) and incidence rate ratios (IRR), controlling for cluster by club and offset by exposure hour. Differences in rates were estimated across level of competition (sub-elite/elite), sex (male/female), age (years), T&T experience (years) and exposure (training/competition hours). Descriptive statistics (medians, ranges, proportions, 95% confidence intervals) for athlete demographics and injury characteristics are reported. Results: A total of 132 athletes [89 female; median age=14 (range 10-24 years), 43 males; median age 15 (range 9-24)] from 25 clubs completed the survey with 65% reporting at least one T&T related injury in the previous year. A total of 135 injuries were reported (IR 2.01/1000 exposure hours 95%CI 1.69-2.39). The median time-loss was 30 days (range 0-482) and 125/135 (92.5%) of the injured athletes sought medical attention. The injury rate for elite athletes was 115 injuries/100 athletes/year (95% CI 89.4-143.1) and 92 injuries/100 athletes (95%CI 70.8-116.6) for sub-elite. The most common injury locations were the ankle [28% (24/135)] and head/face [18% (24/135)]. Ligament sprains [22% (30/135)] and concussion [17% (23/135)] were the most common injury type. Females reported significantly higher rate of injury than males [IRR 1.49 (95%CI 1.12-1.92)]. Conclusion: This study examined injury incidence in terms of exposure and found females were at greater rate of injury over their male counterparts. Athletes experience ankle, head (concussion) and overuse type injuries as they engage in competitive T&T. Additional prospective research is needed to inform the development of effective injury prevention strategies among these high-risk young athletes.
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Keywords
Competitive Trampoline and Tumbling, Youth sport, Injury
Citation
Downie, S. (2021). STICK ITT - Study to Increase Current Knowledge of Injuries in Trampoline and Tumbling (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.