Are Injury Rates in High School Athletes Increasing?

Sponsor

US Lacrosse, Sports Science & Safety Committee

Study Aims

This study will explore changes in the incidence of collegiate and high school sports-related concussion over the period 1998-2007. Overall and sport-specific changes over time will be identified. Results will be used to identify sports with elevated or reduced concussion rates relative to the overall trend.

Methods

We will identify rates and trends for all male and female varsity sports reported to Fairfax County (Va) Public Schools from the 1997-1998 to 2006-2007 academic years. High school level data will include reported concussions among the 25 schools for 6 men's and 6 women's varsity sports, including men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, football, wrestling, men's and women's basketball, baseball, and softball.

Analysis

Injury rates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) will be computed per 1,000 athletic-exposures (A-E). Negative binomial regression will be used to assess trends in the injury rates over the 10 year study period. These models will estimate the average annual percentage increase (or decrease) in the injury rates, assuming a linear trend over time. This approach will also be used to compare the rates between session type (game or practice), gender, and sport.