Medical Care and Injury Surveillance in the High School Setting

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Athletic Training
• Injury Epidemiology

Background:

• Previous sports injury studies relied on coach perceptions, introducing potential bias.
• Objective evaluation of athletic injuries in high school settings is crucial for accurate data.
• Understanding injury patterns informs prevention and treatment protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically identify and evaluate all athletic injuries in a high school population over two years.
• To reduce bias associated with coach-reported injury data.
• To establish a baseline for injury incidence and types in various high school sports.

Main Methods:

• Four athletic trainers were employed in high schools for a two-year study.
• All injuries resulting from athletic participation were identified and evaluated.
• Data collected included injury type, severity, and medical evaluation status.

Main Results:

• A total of 1,181 injuries were recorded among 3,049 participants across 19 sports.
• Sprains and strains constituted two-thirds of all injuries, with ankle sprains being the most frequent.
• Physician evaluation occurred for 39% of injuries, and 25 injuries necessitated hospitalization.

Conclusions:

• The presence of athletic trainers likely increased physician visits and diagnostic imaging (X-rays).
• Athletic trainers enhanced school awareness regarding injury prevention, recognition, treatment, and rehabilitation.
• Systematic injury surveillance by trained professionals provides valuable data for sports safety initiatives.