Background: Injury research on mountain biking has been mostly limited to examining professional riders and off-road biking. Mountain bikes represent the largest segment of bike sales in the United States. Recreational mountain bike use is popular and understudied.
Purpose: To describe the scope, distribution, and trends of mountain bike–related injuries treated in US emergency departments.
Study Design: Descriptive epidemiologic study.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted with data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission for patients aged ≥8 years from 1994 through 2007. Sample weights provided by the system were used to calculate national estimates of mountain bike–related injuries based on 4624 cases. Bivariate comparisons between categorical variables were assessed with injury proportion ratios and 95% confidence intervals.
Results: Nationwide, an estimated 217 433 patients were treated for mountain bike–related injuries in US emergency departments from 1994 to 2007, an average of 15 531 injuries per year. The annual number of injuries decreased 56%, from a high of 23 177 in 1995 to 10 267 in 2007 (P < .001). The most common injuries were upper extremity fractures (10.6%) and shoulder fractures (8.3%). Patients aged 14 to 19 years sustained a greater proportion of traumatic brain injuries (8.4%) than did patients aged 8 to 13 years and ≥20 years combined (4.3%). A greater proportion of female riders (6.1%) than male riders (4.5%) were hospitalized.
Conclusion: Mountain bike–related injuries decreased from 1994 to 2007. Upper extremity fractures were the most common injury. Girls and women may be more likely than boys and men to sustain more severe injuries requiring hospitalization. Despite the decline over the past decade, more can be done to improve safety and reduce injuries in this popular recreational activity.
Background
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is an emerging public health issue in high-contact sports. Understanding the incidence along with the risk and protective factors of mTBI in high-contact sports such as rugby is paramount if appropriate preventive strategies are to be developed.
Purpose
To estimate the incidence and identify the risk and protective factors of mTBI in Australian nonprofessional rugby players.
Study Design
Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.
Methods
A cohort of 3207 male nonprofessional rugby players from Sydney, Australia, was recruited and followed over 1 or more playing seasons. Demographic information, history of recent concussion, and information on risk and protective factors were collected. The incidence of mTBI was estimated and the putative risk and protective factors were modeled in relation to mTBI.
Results
The incidence of mTBI was 7.97 per 1000 player game hours, with 313 players (9.8%) sustaining 1 or more mTBIs during the study. Players who reported always wearing protective headgear during games were at a reduced risk (incident rate ratio [IRR], 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40–0.82) of sustaining an mTBI. In contrast, the likelihood of mTBI was almost 2 times higher among players who reported having sustained either 1 (IRR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.11–2.76) or more mTBIs (IRR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.11–2.45) within the 12 months before recruitment.
Conclusion
Nonprofessional rugby has a high incidence of mTBI, with the absence of headgear and a recent history of mTBI associated with an increased risk of subsequent mTBI. These findings highlight that both use of headgear and the management of prior concussion would likely be beneficial in reducing the likelihood of mTBI among nonprofessional rugby players, who compose more than 99% of rugby union players in Australia.
Background
Triathlon combines swimming, cycling, and running into a single event. With increasing popularity of this sport, there has been a rise in the number of participants, particularly in shorter distance races. However, the risks of participating in short-distance races have not been reported.
Purpose
To describe the rate and profile of injuries seen for medical assistance during a triathlon race series.
Study Design
Descriptive epidemiology study.
Methods
A standardized injury reporting form was used to collect information from race entrants seeking medical aid at each of the races comprising a combination of Sprint, Olympic, and Fun race distances in a triathlon series in Victoria, Australia over the 2006–2007 race season. Injury rates and risk factors were assessed via regression analysis.
Results
There were 10 197 individual starters who took part. There were 235 presentations for medical assistance (n = 322 injuries) over the series. The presentation rate was 20.1 per 1000 hours of competition (2.3% of total race starts). Injuries were predominantly sustained during the run (38.4%) and cycle (14.3%) legs. Lower limb injuries (59.5%) and abrasions (28.6%) were the most common site and nature of injury, respectively. There were 9 severe injuries: 5 fractures, 3 probable heat stroke cases, and 1 deep laceration. Elite/Junior Elite, Olympic distance, and 12- to 19-year-old competitors were at higher risk of injury, especially during running and cycling.
Conclusion
The level and age of triathlon competitors, and the race distance, influenced the risk of injury over a race series. These results provide timely information for triathlon race event organizers and could be incorporated into a review of practices for the provision of medical services to triathlon events, especially the common sprint distance competitions.
Clinical Relevance
Shorter distance triathlons have lower injury rates and relatively minor injuries, but medical teams and race organizers should be prepared for serious injuries.
Background: Better understanding of the incidence, mechanisms, and characteristics of potential injuries in wrestling helps to implement preventive measures to better care for these athletes. Several studies have investigated the incidence and type of injuries in amateur and intercollegiate wrestling; however, there is a lack of studies that review the incidence and nature of injuries in elite wrestlers during Olympic Games or World Championships.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the injury profile of elite senior wrestlers in Greco-Roman, freestyle, and female wrestling during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Study Design: Descriptive epidemiologic study.
Methods: Study participants consisted of 343 wrestlers participating in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Standard checkoff forms were used to collect the injury data, including injury type, severity, location, timing, and mechanism.
Results: A total of 343 athletes sustained 32 injuries during 406 matches, which is equivalent to an overall incidence of 9.30 injuries per 100 athletes and 7.88 injuries per 100 matches. Among the 3 styles, freestyle had the highest injury rate (10.1%) and female wrestling the lowest (7.5%). In sum, 84.4% of all injuries were categorized as mild. Although the overall injury rate in male athletes was slightly higher than that among female athletes (9.7% versus 7.5%), this difference was not statistically significant (odds ratio = 1.21, 95% confidence interval = 0.46-3.68; P = .40).
Conclusion: The rate and severity of wrestling injuries during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games were lower than previous reports. No serious and catastrophic injury was recorded, and most injuries were minor.
