Injury prevalence and risk factors in national-level female sprinters - 6‑month prospective observational study

This prospective cohort observational study aimed to describe the prevalence of injuries among national-level female sprinters and to explore associations between event types (curved versus straight line) and other relevant factors.

A total of 81 Japanese female sprinters competing at the national level participated in this study, of whom 41 (50.6%) specialized in straight‑line events. The Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center overuse injury questionnaire was distributed every other week for 6 months (overall response rate was 46.2%). Additionally, athletes completed a survey and performed a single-leg squat test once at the beginning.

During the 6 months, 39 athletes (48.2%) experienced at least one substantial health problem, with 90% of these being injuries. Athletes with substantial health problems were significantly taller, slept less, and had more often specialized in curved events. Logistic regression analysis revealed shorter sleep duration was associated with higher odds of sustaining a substantial injury (OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.37-0.97, p = 0.04). Furthermore, athletes specializing in straight‑line events had a lower risk of substantial injuries compared to those specializing in curved events (OR = 0.19, 95% CI 0.06-0.60, p  <0.01).

Limited sleep and specialization in curved events were significant risk factors for substantial injuries among national-level female sprinters. These findings highlight potentially important factors for injury monitoring and prevention strategies in sprint athletes, while reflecting associations observed within this cohort.