SUBJECT-RELATED RISK-FACTORS FOR SPORTS INJURIES - A 1-YR PROSPECTIVE-STUDY IN YOUNG-ADULTS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the importance of subject -related risk factors for sports injuries, taking exposure time into a ccount. At baseline in 182 healthy males and females (27 yr) the follo wing subject-related risk factors were assessed: body mass index (BMI) , maximal oxygen uptake (direct treadmill measurement), seven aspects of neuromotor fitness (MOPER fitness test), strength of the hamstring and quadriceps muscles (CYBEX), having sustained a sports injury in th e 12 months preceding the baseline measurement (''previous injury''), and 16 psychological and psychosocial factors (measured with 8 standar d, valid, and reliable questionnaires). For 1 yr, subjects were asked to make daily entries on a monthly log concerning all sports activitie s exceeding an intensity of 4 MET and all sustained sports injuries. C ompleted logs were returned by 139 subjects (75 males and 64 females). Fifty one injuries were registered in 41 subjects. The overall incide nce rate (IR) was 3.7 sports injuries per 1000 h of sports participati on (95% confidence interval 2.8-4.9). For various subcategories, the f ollowing IR per 1000 h of sports participation were calculated: contac t sports IR = 11.0 (95% CI 7.4-16.3); noncontact sports IR = 2.3% (95% CI 1.6-3.3); competition IR = 13.4 (95% CI 8.7-20.6); and training IR = 2.8 (95% CI 1.6-5.1). Data were analyzed by stepwise multiple logis tic regression. The following five variables were independent and sign ificant (P < 0.05) predictors of risk in sustaining a sports injury: d ominance (odds ratio (OR) = 1.71; 95% CI = 1.44-2.03), vital exhaustio n (OR = 1.85; CI = 1.22-2.86), stressful life events (OR = 1.84; 95% C I = 1.10-311); these ORs were calculated for an increase of 10% of the range of obtained scores, starting at minimum value. For total sporti ng time, the OR was calculated by taking the group with a total sporti ng time below the median (4050 h) as a reference (OR = 6.87; 95% CI = 2.09-22.55). For previous injury, subjects that had not sustained a sp orts injury in the 12 months preceding the baseline measurements serve d as a reference for the calculation of the OR (OR = 9.41; 95% CI = 2. 80-31.58). These findings confirm that both exposure time and previous injury are more important predictors of sports injuries than psycholo gical, psychosocial, physiological, and anthropometrical factors.