ABILITY OF MIDDLE-SCHOOL SOCCER PLAYERS TO LOCALIZE OVERUSE LEG PAIN CORRECTLY USING A GRAPHIC SELF-REPORT FORM

This study was conducted to assess the probability of success with whi ch middle-school-age soccer players could correctly localize lower leg pain to sites of common overuse injuries, using a graphic self-report instrument. Subjects included 98 middle-school soccer players, ages 1 2 to 15 years. Players' self-reports of leg pain were compared with th e results of a blind physical examination. Players reporting pain of m ore than two weeks' duration successfully localized a statistically si gnificant number of their sites of pain using the graphic form, provid ing evidence of concurrent validity. Further development is needed bef ore the measure can be used in surveillance of overuse injuries in you th sports.