Injury Patterns in Weightlifting: An Epidemiological Analysis of Emergency Visits (2014-2023)

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Limited research exists on the pandemic's effect on weightlifting injury trends.
• Understanding these trends is crucial for developing effective national injury prevention strategies.
• The study examines injury patterns across demographics and time periods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze weightlifting injury trends by age and gender.
• To compare injury rates during pre-COVID, COVID, and post-COVID periods.
• To provide long-term data for informing national injury prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) from 2014-2023.
• Analyzed weightlifting injuries presented to US Emergency Departments.
• Employed statistical analyses including chi-square, linear regression, ANOVA, and Z-tests.

Main Results:

• An estimated 767,174 weightlifting injuries occurred nationally between 2014-2023.
• Injury incidence dropped by 34.95% during COVID compared to pre-COVID, then increased by 47.19% post-COVID.
• Strains and sprains, the most common injuries, saw a 43.81% decrease during COVID and a 27.87% increase post-COVID.

Conclusions:

• A significant shift in weightlifting injury rates occurred around the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Post-pandemic injury increases highlight the need for updated prevention strategies.
• Psychosocial factors influencing younger populations require consideration in injury prevention efforts.