Risk factors for acute and overuse sport injuries in S wedish children 11 to 15 years old: What about resistance training with weights?

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports Vol. 26; no. 3; pp. 317 - 323
• Main Authors: Boström, A., Thulin, K., Fredriksson, M., Reese, D., Rockborn, P., Hammar, M. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.03.2016
• ISSN: 0905-7188; 1600-0838
• DOI: 10.1111/sms.12432

To determine the 1‐year self‐reported incidence of overuse and traumatic sport injuries and risk factors for injuries in children participating in a summer sports camp representing seven different sports. 4363 children, 11 to 15 years old participating in a summer camp in seven different sports answered a questionnaire. Injury in this cross‐sectional study was defined as a sport‐related trauma or overload leading to pain and dysfunction preventing the person from participation in training or competition for at least 1 week. A number of risk factors for injury were investigated such as sex, age, number of hours spent on training in general, and on resistance training with weights. Nearly half [49%, 95% confidence interval ( CI ) 48–51%] of the participants had been injured as a result of participation in a sport during the preceding year, significantly more boys than girls (53%, 95% CI 50–55% vs 46%, 95% CI 43–48%; P  < 0.001). Three factors contributed to increased incidence of sport injuries: age, sex, and resistance training with weights. Time spent on resistance training with weights was significantly associated with sport injuries in a logistic regression analysis. In children age 11 to 15 years, the risk of having a sport‐related injury increased with age and occurred more often in boys than in girls. Weight training was the only modifiable risk factor that contributed to a significant increase in the incidence of sport injuries.