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Sport cancellations early in the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant negative effect on the health of US adolescents. The effect of restarting sports during the pandemic has not been described. To identify the effect of sport participation on the health of adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-sectional study. Sample recruited via social media. Wisconsin adolescent athletes. Participants provided information regarding their age, sex, and sport(s) involvement and completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Item to assess depression symptoms, the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale to measure physical activity, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 to measure quality of life (QoL). Data were collected in spring 2021 (Spring21; n = 1906, age = 16.0 ± 1.2 years, females = 48.8%), when interscholastic sports had fully resumed, and were compared with similar cohorts of adolescent athletes at 2 time points: (1) spring 2020 (Spring20; n = 3243, age = 16.2 ± 1.2 years, females = 57.9%) when sports were cancelled and (2) 2016–2018 (PreCOVID-19) before the pandemic (n = 5231, age = 15.7 ± 1.1 years, females = 65.0%). Comparisons were conducted via analysis-of-variance models and ordinal regressions with age and sex as covariates. The prevalence of moderate to severe depression was lower in Spring21 than in Spring20 but higher than in PreCOVID-19 (PreCOVID-19 = 5.3%, Spring20 = 37.8%, Spring21 = 22.8%; P <.001). Physical activity scores (mean [95% CI]) were higher in Spring21 than in Spring20 but lower than in PreCOVID-19 (PreCOVID-19 = 23.1 [22.7, 23.5], Spring20 = 13.5 [13.3, 13.7], Spring21 = 21.9 [21.6, 22.2]). Similarly, QoL scores were higher in Spring21 than in Spring20 but lower than in PreCOVID-19 (PreCOVID-19 = 92.8 [92.5, 93.1], Spring20 = 80.7 [80.3, 81.1], Spring21 = 84.3 [83.8, 84.8]). Although sports have restarted, clinicians should be aware that physical activity, mental health, and QoL are still significantly affected in adolescent athletes by the ongoing pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe the incidence of COVID-19 in Wisconsin high school athletes and investigate the relationship of COVID-19 incidence with sport and face mask use. Retrospective survey. High schools across Wisconsin during September 2020. Athletic directors representing 30 074 high school athletes with or without SARS-CoV-2. The COVID-19 rates among athletes, counties, states, as well as school instruction type (virtual versus in person), sport type, and face mask use were assessed. Reported athlete case rates were compared with the county's general population and associations between COVID-19 incidence and sport type and face mask use, adjusting for each school's county incidence using multivariable negative binomial regression models. The COVID-19 incidence rates for 207 of 244 responding schools were 32.6 cases per 100 000 player-days. Reported case rates for athletes in each county were positively correlated with the county's general population case rates (β = 1.14 ± 0.20, r = 0.60, P <.001). One case (0.5%) was attributed to sport contact by the reporting schools. No difference was identified between team and individual sports (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.03 [95% CI = 0.49, 2.2], P =.93) or between noncontact and contact sports (IRR = 0.53 [0.23, 1.3], P =.14). Outdoor sports had a lower incidence rate than indoor sports, although this finding did not reach statistical significance (IRR = 0.52 [0.26, 1.1], P =.07). No significant associations were found between COVID-19 incidence and face mask use during play for those sports with greater than 50 schools reporting on face mask use (P values >.05). The incidence of reported COVID-19 among high school athletes was related to the county incidence, and most cases were attributed to nonsport contact. A lower COVID-19 incidence in outdoor sports approached statistical significance. The lack of a significant benefit demonstrated for face mask use may be due to relatively low rates of COVID-19 in Wisconsin during September 2020. Further research is needed to better define COVID-19 transmission risk factors during adolescent sport participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the fall of 2020, some high schools across the United States allowed their students to participate in interscholastic sports while others cancelled or postponed their sport programs due to concerns regarding COVID-19 transmission. What effect this has had on the physical and mental health of adolescents is unknown. To identify the effect of playing a sport during the COVID-19 pandemic on the health of student-athletes. Cross-sectional study. Sample recruited via email. A total of 559 Wisconsin high school athletes (age = 15.7 ± 1.2 years, female = 43.6%, male = 56.4%) from 44 high schools completed an online survey in October 2020. A total of 171 (30.6%) athletes played (PLY) a fall sport, while 388 (69.4%) did not play (DNP). Demographic data included sex, grade, and sport(s) played. Assessments were the General Anxiety Disorder-7 Item for anxiety, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Item for depression, the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale for physical activity, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 for quality of life. Univariable comparisons between the 2 groups were made via t tests or χ2 tests. Means for each continuous outcome measure were compared between groups using analysis-of-variance models that controlled for age, sex, teaching method (virtual, hybrid, or in person), and the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The PLY group participants were less likely to report moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety (PLY = 6.6%, DNP = 44.1%, P <.001) and depression (PLY = 18.2%, DNP = 40.4%, P <.001). They also demonstrated higher (better) Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale scores (PLY = 23.2 [95% CI = 22.0, 24.5], DNP = 16.4 [95% CI = 15.0, 17.8], P <.001) and higher (better) Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory total scores (PLY = 88.4 [95% CI = 85.9, 90.9], DNP = 79.6 [95% CI = 76.8, 82.4], P <.001). Adolescents who played a sport during the COVID-19 pandemic described fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression and had better physical activity and quality-of-life scores compared with adolescent athletes who did not play a sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spring 2020, schools closed to in-person teaching and sports were cancelled to control the transmission of COVID-19. The changes that affected the physical and mental health among young athletes during this time remain unknown. To identify changes in the health (mental health, physical activity, and quality of life) of athletes that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-sectional study. Sample recruited via social media. A total of 3243 Wisconsin adolescent athletes (age = 16.2 ± 1.2 years, 58% female) were surveyed in May 2020 (During COVID-19). Measures for this cohort were compared with previously reported data for Wisconsin adolescent athletes (n = 5231; age = 15.7 ± 1.2 years, 47% female) collected in 2016 to 2018 (PreCOVID-19). Demographic information included sex, grade, and sport(s) played. Health assessments included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Item to identify depression symptoms, the Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale to gauge physical activity, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 to evaluate health-related quality of life. Univariable comparisons of these variables between groups were conducted via t or χ2 tests. Means and 95% CIs for each group were estimated using survey-weighted analysis-of-variance models. Compared with preCOVID-19 participants, a larger proportion of During COVID-19 participants reported moderate to severe levels of depression (9.7% versus 32.9%, P <.001). Scores of the During COVID-19 participants were 50% lower (worse) on the Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (mean [95% CI] = 12.2 [11.9, 12.5] versus 24.7 [24.5, 24.9], P <.001) and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 compared with the PreCOVID-19 participants (78.4 [78.0, 78.8] versus 90.9 [90.5, 91.3], P <.001). During the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescent athletes described increased symptoms of depression, decreased physical activity, and decreased quality of life compared with adolescent athletes in previous years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Football is the most popular sport among US high school students and among the highest for sport-related concussion (SRC) incidence. Limited data detail how SRCs affect high school football players' psychosocial and health status beyond short-term injury recovery. Objective: To longitudinally assess how SRCs affected symptoms, depression, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in high school football players up to 12 months after SRC. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Thirty-one Wisconsin high schools. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 1176 interscholastic football players (age = 16.0 ± 1.2 years). Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants completed the Post-concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) from the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 3 (SCAT3), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression, and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL) for HRQoL at enrollment. Participants who sustained an SRC repeated each measure within 72 hours of their injury (onset) and at 7 days (D7), return to play (RTP), and 3 months (M3), 6 months (M6), and 12 months (M12) after SRC. Scores at each time point were compared with each participant's baseline using linear mixed models for repeated measures while controlling for age and previous SRC with participant as a random effect. Results: Sixty-two participants sustained an SRC. Participants reported a higher number of PCSS symptoms, greater symptom severity, and lower PedsQL physical summary scores at onset and D7. From RTP through M12, PCSS symptoms, PCSS severity scores, PedsQL total scores, physical summary, and psychosocial summary were unchanged or improved relative to baseline. The PHQ-9 scores were not higher than baseline at any post-SRC interval. Conclusions: High school football players in this study who sustained an SRC described no sustained adverse health outcomes (increased PCSS symptoms or symptom severity, increased depression symptoms, or lower HRQoL) after their RTP through M12 after injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sport-related concussions (SRCs) are associated with short-term disablement, characterized as increased concussion symptoms and lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, there are limited longitudinal data detailing how an SRC affects disablement beyond short-term injury recovery. Purpose: To longitudinally assess the effect of SRCs on symptoms and HRQoL in high school athletes through the 12 months after injury. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: The 125 participants included high school athletes who sustained an SRC (female patients, 36%; mean ± SD age, 15.9 ± 1.1 years). The Post-concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) from the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool–3 and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL) were completed at enrollment and repeated at 24 to 72 hours (onset) and at 7 days (D7) after the SRC; on the date of return to play (RTP); and at 3, 6, and 12 months (M12) after the SRC. Scores at each time point were compared with the athletes' own baseline via linear mixed models for repeated measures, controlling for age, sex, and history of previous SRC and with patient as a random effect. Results: Relative to baseline, female patients reported higher PCSS symptom and severity scores at onset (P <.001) and D7 (P <.001), while scores were not higher (P >.05) for RTP through M12. As compared with baseline, male patients reported higher PCSS scores at onset (P <.001) and D7 (P =.003) and severity scores at onset (P <.001) and D7 (P =.016), while the symptom and severity scores were not higher (P >.05) at RTP through M12. Female participants reported lower PedsQL physical scores at onset (P =.006), while scores were not lower (P >.05) from D7 through M12. Female psychosocial scores were not lower (P >.05) at any time after the SRC, while the total PedsQL score was lower at onset (P =.05) but not from D7 through M12. Male physical scores were lower at onset (P <.001) and D7 (P =.001) but not lower (P >.05) from RTP through M12. Male psychosocial and PedsQL scores were unchanged (P >.05) from baseline at onset through M12. Conclusion: After an SRC, high school athletes reported initial disablement (increased symptoms and lower HRQoL) through their RTP. However, after RTP, no similar disablement was detected through 12 months after injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sport-related concussion (SRC) has been associated with cognitive impairment, depression, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. American football is the most popular sport among males in the United States and has one of the highest concussion rates among high school sports. Measured head impacts and concussions are approximately 4 times more common in contact practices compared with noncontact practices. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association passed new rules defining and limiting contact during practice before the 2014 football season. Purpose: To determine if the SRC rate is lower after a rule change that limited the amount and duration of full-contact activities during high school football practice sessions. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 2081 high school football athletes enrolled and participated in the study in 2012-2013 (before the rule change), and 945 players participated in the study in 2014 (after the rule change). Players self-reported previous concussion and demographic information. Athletic trainers recorded athlete exposures (AEs), concussion incidence, and days lost for each SRC. Chi-square tests were used to compare the incidence of SRC in prerule 2012-2013 seasons with the incidence in the postrule 2014 season. Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to determine differences in days lost because of SRC. Results: A total of 67 players (7.1%) sustained 70 SRCs in 2014. The overall rate of SRC per 1000 AEs was 1.28 in 2014 as compared with 1.58 in 2012-2013 (P =.139). The rate of SRC sustained overall in practice was significantly lower (P =.003) after the rule change in 2014 (15 SRCs, 0.33 per 1000 AEs) as compared with prerule 2012-2013 (86 SRCs, 0.76 per 1000 AEs). There was no difference (P =.999) in the rate of SRC sustained in games before (5.81 per 1000 AEs) and after (5.74 per 1000 AEs) the rule change. There was no difference (P =.967) in days lost from SRC before (13 days lost [interquartile range, 10-18]) and after (14 days lost [interquartile range, 10-16]) the rule change. Conclusion: The rate of SRC sustained in high school football practice decreased by 57% after a rule change limiting the amount and duration of full-contact activities, with no change in competition concussion rate. Limitations on contact during high school football practice may be one effective measure to reduce the incidence of SRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Secondary schools have made significant progress in providing athletic trainer (AT) coverage to their studentathletes, but the levels of access at schools with ATs may vary widely. Socioeconomic disparities in medical coverage and access have been noted in other health care fields, but such disparities in the level of access to AT services have not been thoroughly examined. Objective: To determine if (1) access to AT services or (2) the level of access (AT hours per week and athletes per AT hour) differed based on the socioeconomic characteristics of secondary schools. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Mailed and e-mailed surveys. Patients or Other Participants: High school athletic directors and ATs from 402 Wisconsin high schools. Main Outcome Measure(s): Respondents provided information as to whether their school used the services of an AT and the number of hours per week that their school had an AT onsite. The number of athletes per AT hour was calculated by dividing the total number of athletes at the school by the number of hours of AT coverage per week. The socioeconomic status of each school was determined using the percentage of students with free or reduced-cost lunch and the county median household income (MHI). Results: Schools without an AT on-site were in lower MHI counties (P , .001) and had more students eligible for a free or reduced-cost lunch (P , .001). Lower levels of AT access (fewer hours of AT access per week and more athletes per AT hour) were observed at schools in the lowest third of the county MHI and with the highest third of students eligible for a free or reduced-cost lunch (P , .001). Conclusions: Socioeconomic disparities were present in access to AT services. New models are needed to focus on providing a high level of AT access for all student-athletes, regardless of socioeconomic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: In many US high schools, the athletic trainer (AT) has the responsibility to identify and manage athletes with concussions. Although the availability of ATs varies a great deal among schools, how the level of AT availability in high schools affects the reported incidence and management of sport-related concussions (SRCs) is unknown. Objective: To determine how the presence of an AT affects the reporting and management of SRCs. Design: Prospective cohort study. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 2459 (female = 37.5%, age=16.1 ± 1.2 years) athletes from 31 Wisconsin high schools were categorized as having low availability (LoAT), mid availability (MidAT), or high availability (HiAT) of ATs. Athletic trainers recorded the incidence, days lost from sport, and postconcussion management through return to sport. The incidence of SRC reporting among categories was examined using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. Fisher exact tests were used to determine if postconcussion management differed based on AT availability. Results: The incidence of reported SRCs was lower for the LoAT schools (2.4%) compared with the MidAT (5.6%, hazard ratio = 2.59, P = .043) and HiAT (7.0%, hazard ratio = 3.33, P = .002) schools. The median time before the first AT interaction was longer for LoAT schools (24.0 hours) than for MidAT (0.5 hours, post hoc P = .012) and HiAT (0.2 hours, post hoc P = .023) schools. The number of post-SRC interactions was different in all groups (LoAT = 2 interactions, MidAT = 3, and HiAT = 4; all post hoc P values, .05). Days lost were greater for MidAT and HiAT (both 14 days lost) schools compared with LoAT schools (11.5 days lost, post hoc P = .231 and P = .029, respectively). Athletes at LoAT schools were less likely to undergo a return-to-play protocol (9/18 SRCs, 50.0%) than athletes at MidAT (44/47 SRCs, 93.6%; post hoc P = .001) or HiAT (64/64 SRCs, 100%; post hoc P,< .001) schools. Conclusions: The level of AT availability positively influenced the reported incidence of SRCs as well as postconcussion management activities in this sample of high schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sport specialization is associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal lower extremity injuries (LEIs) in adolescent athletes presenting in clinical settings. However, sport specialization and the incidence of LEIs have not been investigated prospectively in a large population of adolescent athletes. Purpose: To determine if sport specialization was associated with an increased risk of LEIs in high school athletes. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Participants (interscholastic athletes in grades 9-12) were recruited from 29 Wisconsin high schools during the 2015-2016 school year. Participants completed a questionnaire identifying their sport participation and history of LEIs. Sport specialization of low, moderate, or high was determined using a previously published 3-point scale. Athletic trainers reported all LEIs that occurred during the school year. Analyses included group proportions, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs, and days lost due to injury (median and interquartile range [IQR]). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs were calculated to investigate the association between the incidence of LEIs and sport specialization level. Results: A total of 1544 participants (50.5% female; mean age, 16.1 6 1.1 years) enrolled in the study, competed in 2843 athletic seasons, and participated in 167,349 athlete-exposures. Sport specialization was classified as low (59.5%), moderate (27.1%), or high (13.4%). Two hundred thirty-five participants (15.2%) sustained a total of 276 LEIs that caused them to miss a median of 7.0 days (IQR, 2.0-22.8). Injuries occurred most often to the ankle (34.4%), knee (25.0%), and upper leg (12.7%) and included ligament sprains (40.9%), muscle/tendon strains (25.4%), and tendinitis/tenosynovitis (19.6%). The incidence of LEIs for moderate participants was higher than for low participants (HR, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.04-2.20]; P = .03). The incidence of LEIs for high participants was higher than for low participants (HR, 1.85 [95% CI, 1.12-3.06]; P = .02). Conclusion: Athletes with moderate or high sport specialization were more likely to sustain an LEI than athletes with low specialization. Sports medicine providers need to educate coaches, parents, and interscholastic athletes regarding the increased risk of LEIs for athletes who specialize in a single sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recommendations exist to encourage safe youth participation in sport. These recommendations include not specializing in 1 sport, limiting participation to less than 8 months per year, and limiting participation to fewer hours per week than a child’s age. However, limited evidence exists to support or refute these recommendations. Hypothesis: High levels of specialization will be associated with a history of injuries and especially overuse injuries, independent of age, sex, or weekly sport training hours. Athletes who exceed current sport volume recommendations will be more likely to have a history of injuries and overuse injuries. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Youth athletes (n = 2011; 989 female and 1022 male; 12-18 years of age) completed a questionnaire regarding their specialization status, yearly and weekly sport participation volume, and injury history. Specialization was classified as low, moderate, or high using a previously utilized 3-point scale. Athletes were classified into groups based on either meeting or exceeding current volume recommendations (months per year and hours per week). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were calculated to investigate associations of specialization and volume of participation with a history of sport-related injuries in the past year (P ≤ .05). Results: Highly specialized athletes were more likely to report a previous injury of any kind (P < .001; OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.26-2.02) or an overuse injury (P = .011; OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.07-1.99) in the previous year compared with athletes in the low specialization group. Athletes who played their primary sport more than 8 months of the year were more likely to report an upper extremity overuse injury (P = .04; OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.06-2.80) or a lower extremity overuse injury (P = .001; OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.22-2.30). Athletes who participated in their primary sport for more hours per week than their age (ie, a 16-year-old athlete who participated in his or her primary sport for more than 16 h/wk) were more likely to report an injury of any type (P = .001; OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.12-1.61) in the previous year. Conclusion: High levels of specialization were associated with a history of injuries, independent of age, sex, and weekly organized sport volume. Athletes who exceeded volume recommendations were more likely to have a history of overuse injuries. Clinical Relevance: Parents and youth athletes should be aware of the risks of specialization and excessive sport volume to maximize safe sport participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sport specialization is a strategy to acquire superior sport performance in 1 sport but is associated with increased injury risk. Currently, the degree of high school specialization among Division I athletes is unknown.Hypothesis: College athletes will display increased rates of specialization as they progress through their high school careers.Study Design: Descriptive epidemiological study.Level Of Evidence: Level 4.Methods: Three hundred forty-three athletes (115 female) representing 9 sports from a Midwest Division I University completed a previously utilized sport specialization questionnaire regarding sport participation patterns for each grade of high school. McNemar and chi-square tests were used to investigate associations of grade, sport, and sex with prevalence of sport specialization category (low, moderate, high) (a priori P ≤ 0.05).Results: Specialization increased throughout high school, with 16.9% (n = 58) and 41.1% (n = 141) of athletes highly specialized in 9th and 12th grades, respectively. Football athletes were less likely to be highly specialized than nonfootball athletes for each year of high school ( P < 0.001). There was no difference in degree of specialization between sexes at any grade level ( P > 0.23).Conclusion: The majority of Division I athletes were not classified as highly specialized throughout high school, but the prevalence of high specialization increased as athletes progressed through high school. Nonfootball athletes were more likely to be highly specialized than football athletes at each grade level.Clinical Relevance: Most athletes who are recruited to participate in collegiate athletics will eventually specialize in their sport, but it does not appear that early specialization is necessary to become a Division I athlete. Athletes should be counseled regarding safe participation in sport during high school to minimize injury and maximize performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which examined the association of protective equipment and player characteristics with the incidence of sport-related concussion (SRC) in high school football players. Results show that there was no difference in the incidence of SRC for players wearing helmets while the rate of SRC was higher in those who wore a custom mouth guard. It concluded that SRC incidence is similar regardless of the brand of helmets used.

The article discusses a study which investigated how high school basketball coaches utilized ankle injury prevention strategies. Such strategies include prophylactic ankle bracing (PAB) or an ankle injury prevention exercise program (AIEPP). All high school basketball coaches in Wisconsin were surveyed. It was found that less than half of the coaches encouraged use of PAB.

Background: Although ankle injuries occur frequently in high school football players, no prospective studies have been performed to determine if wearing lace-up ankle braces will reduce the incidence and severity of ankle and other lower extremity injuries in these athletes.Purpose: This study was conducted to determine if lace-up ankle braces reduce the incidence and severity of lower extremity injuries sustained by high school football players.Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.Methods: A total of 2081 players from 50 high schools were randomly assigned to a braced or control group. Braced group players wore lace-up ankle braces during the 2010 football season. Athletic trainers recorded brace compliance, athlete-exposures, and injuries. Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to compare injury rates between groups. Injury severity (days lost) was tested with Wilcoxon rank sum.Results: The rate of acute ankle injury (per 1000 exposures) was 0.48 in the braced group compared with 1.12 in the control group (Cox hazard ratio [HR] = 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24-0.65; P < .001). The severity (median days lost) of acute ankle injuries was the same (5 days) in both groups (P = .985). The rate of acute knee injury was 0.70 in the braced group compared with 0.69 in the control group (HR = 0.92; 95% CI, 0.57-1.47; P = .721). There was no difference (P = .242) in the severity of knee injuries between the groups (controls = 11.5 days, braced = 17 days). The rate of other lower extremity injuries was 0.95 in the braced group and 1.32 in the control group (HR = 0.72; 95% CI, 0.48-1.09; P = .117), while the severity was similar in both groups (6 days vs 7 days; P = .295).Conclusion: Players who used lace-up ankle braces had a lower incidence of acute ankle injuries but no difference in the incidence of acute knee or other lower extremity injuries. Braces did not reduce the severity of ankle, knee, or other lower extremity injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Ankle injuries are the most common injury in basketball players. However, no prospective studies have been performed to determine if wearing lace-up ankle braces will reduce the incidence of ankle injuries in high school athletes.Purpose: This trial was undertaken to determine if lace-up ankle braces reduce the incidence and severity of acute first-time and recurrent ankle injuries sustained by high school basketball players.Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.Methods: A total of 1460 male and female basketball players from 46 high schools were randomly assigned to a braced or control group. The braced group players wore lace-up ankle braces during the 2009-2010 basketball season. Athletic trainers recorded brace compliance, athlete exposures, and injuries. Cox proportional hazards models (adjusted for demographic covariates), accounting for intracluster correlation, were utilized to compare time to first acute ankle injury between groups. Injury severity (days lost) was tested with the Wilcoxon rank-sum test.Results: The rate of acute ankle injury (per 1000 exposures) was 0.47 in the braced group and 1.41 in the control group (Cox hazard ratio [HR] 0.32; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20, 0.52; P < .001). The median severity of acute ankle injuries was similar (P = .23) in the braced (6 days) and control group (7 days). For players with a previous ankle injury, the incidence of acute ankle injury was 0.83 in the braced group and 1.79 in the control group (Cox HR 0.39; 95% CI 0.17, 0.90; P = .028). For players who did not report a previous ankle injury, the incidence of acute ankle injury was 0.40 in the braced group and 1.35 in the control group (Cox HR 0.30; 95% CI 0.17, 0.52, P < .001).Conclusion: Use of lace-up ankle braces reduced the incidence but not the severity of acute ankle injuries in male and female high school basketball athletes both with and without a previous history of an ankle injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports a study which evaluated the efficiency of lace-up ankle braces in preventing ankle injuries in adolescent athletes. The result revealed that lace-up ankle braces reduced the incidence of acute ankle injuries, regardless of sex, age, competition level, or body mass index. This supports the evidence that lace-up ankle braces are a cost-effective method to reduce the incidence of acute ankle injuries in adolescent athletes.

Context: The female athlete triad describes the interrelatedness of energy availability, menstrual function, and bone density. Although associations between triad components and musculoskeletal injury (INJ) have been reported in collegiate athletes, limited information exists about menstrual irregularity (Ml) and INJ in the high school population. Objective: To determine the prevalence of and relationship between Ml and INJ in high school athletes. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: High schools. Patients or Other Participants: The sample consisted of 249 female athletes from 3 high schools who competed in 33 interscholastic, school-sponsored sport teams, dance teams, and cheerleading or pom-pon squad during the 2006-2007 school year. Each athlete remained on the roster throughout the season. Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants completed a survey regarding injury type, number of days of sport participation missed, and menstrual history in the past year. Results: The prevalences of Ml and INJ were 19.7% and 63.1%, respectively. Athletes who reported Ml sustained; higher percentage of severe injuries (missing >22 days of practice or competition) than did athletes who reported normal menses. Although the trend was not significant, athletes with Ml were almost 3 times more likely to sustain an injury resulting in 7 or more days of time lost from sport (odds ratio = 2.7, 9591 confidence interval = 0.8, 8.8) than those who sustained an in jury resulting in 7 or fewer days of time lost. Conclusions: The incidences of Ml and INJ in this high school population during the study period were high. Athlete; who reported Ml sustained a higher percentage of severe injuries than did athletes who reported normal menses. Education programs to increase knowledge and improve management o Ml and its potential effects on injury in female high school athletes are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study., Objectives: To determine the prevalence of, and association between, disordered eating (DE), menstrual dysfunction (MD), and musculoskeletal injury (MI) among high school female athletes., Background: Female athlete triad (Triad) syndrome is the interrelatedness of DE, MD, and low bone mass. Few studies have examined 2 or more Triad components simultaneously, or their relationship to injury, among female high school athletes., Methods: The subject sample consisted of 311 female high school athletes competing on 33 interscholastic high school teams during the 2006-2007 school year. Athletes completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and Healthy Wisconsin High School Female Athletes Survey (HWHSFAS). Athletes were classified by sport type as aesthetic (AES), endurance (END), or team/anaerobic (T/A)., Results: Of those surveyed, 35.4% reported DE, 18.8% reported MD, and 65.6% reported sustaining a sports-related musculoskeletal injury during the current sports season. Athletes reporting DE were twice as likely to be injured compared to those reporting normal eating behaviors (odds ratio [OR], 2.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4, 4.0). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that athletes who reported a history of DE (OR, 2.1; 95% CI: 1.1, 3.9) or prior injury (OR, 5.1; 95% CI: 2.9, 8.9) were more likely to be injured during the sports season., Conclusion: A high prevalence of DE and MD exists among high school female athletes. Additionally, athletes with DE were over 2 times more likely to sustain a sports-related injury during a sports season. Screening and intervention programs designed to identify and decrease the prevalence of DE should be implemented with high school females., Level of Evidence: Prognosis, level 2b.