Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Wrestling: 2014–2015 Through 2018–2019

• Published in: Journal of athletic training Vol. 56; no. 7; pp. 727 - 733
• Main Authors: Powell, Jacob R., Boltz, Adrian J., Robison, Hannah J., Morris, Sarah N., Collins, Christy L., Chandran, Avinash
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dallas National Athletic Trainers Association 01.07.2021
• Subjects: College Athletics; Competition; Epidemiology; Estimates; Injuries; Injury prevention; Injury Reports by Sport; Males; Participation; Sports injuries; Statistical Analysis; Trends; Wrestling
• ISSN: 1062-6050; 1938-162X
• DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-429-20

Context The first men's wrestling National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship was sponsored in 1928; since then, participation has increased. Background Continued study of wrestling injury data is essential to identify areas for intervention based on emerging trends. Methods Exposure and injury data collected in the NCAA 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 (IRRs) were used to examine differential injury rates. Results The overall injury rate was 8.82 per 1000 athlete exposures. The competition injury rate was significantly higher than practice injury rate (IRR = 4.11; 95% CI = 3.72, 4.55). The most commonly injured body parts were the knee (21.4%), shoulder (13.4%), and head/face (13.3%), and the most prevalently reported specific injury was concussion. Summary These findings provide the most current update to injury incidence and outcomes in NCAA men's wrestling. We identify notable trends that warrant consideration in future research.