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Early Sport Specialization is Associated With an Increased Odds of Chronic Injury in College Students
Timothy J Zinke1, Scott E Ross2, Pam K Brown2
1Department of Exercise Science, Grace College, Winona Lake, IN, USA.
Context:
Early sport specialization is associated with increased risk of injury and sport attrition. There may be a relationship between early sport specialization and chronic injuries, and these injuries may in turn impact future sport participation. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between the degree of early specialization and the odds of reporting a chronic injury. A second aim was to explore the influence that chronic injuries had on an athlete's decision to discontinue participation in their sport.
Study Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Methods:
Retrospective data was obtained from a questionnair e given to 322 college students currently enrolled in their institution's general education wellness course. The degree of early sport specialization for each participant was calculated using a 4-point specialization scale. Odds ratios with 95% CIs were calculated for chronic injury's association with early sport specialization. Frequency and weighted average rank of options were used to determine which factors had the most influence on specialization and discontinuation decisions.
Results:
Of the 322 athletes surveyed, degree of early sport specialization was determined for 214 (66%). When compared with the referent ("No early sport specialization"), all degrees of early sport specialization (low, moderate, and high) had significantly higher odds (2.32; 95% CI, 1.07-5.04; 3.64; 95% CI, 1.74-7.64; and 4.86; 95% CI, 2.14-11.01, respectively) of reporting a chronic injury. "Personal enjoyment" was the most common reason given for choosing to specialize in a sport (n = 198, average rank = 1.5). "Loss of motivation or enjoyment" was the most common reason for quitting a sport (n = 98, average rank = 1.62).
Conclusions:
Early sport specialization is associated with significantly greater odds of reporting a chronic injury. Factors pertaining to personal enjoyment are the primary drivers of both the decision to specialize and the decision to discontinue a sport.
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