Marching athletes: injuries and illnesses at band camp.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the frequency and types of injuries and illnesses sustained by student members of a high school marching band.


METHODS
A descriptive, correlation retrospective study of 2 years of marching band camp health clinic logs.


RESULTS
There were 378 nursing intervention clinic visits for 178 students in 2005 and 596 visits for 224 students in 2006. The visit frequency peaked on Day 3 of full band camp practice. The most common complaint was lower musculoskeletal injury, followed by skin rashes. Significant correlations were found between day of camp, blisters, menstruation, insect bites, asthma, heat distress, and musculoskeletal injuries.


CONCLUSIONS
Safeguards need to be investigated to protect the musculoskeletal integrity of these high school students. In response to the unique needs of marching band students, the National Athletic Trainers' Association has established guidelines to ensure the safety of these students on the practice field and in public performances. Nurses involved as parents or healthcare providers for adolescents taking part in high school marching bands should consider the athleticism required for this activity and help increase the students' physical activities in the months before the intensive band camp experience.
Kilanowski
Jill F
JF
Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA. jill.kilanowski@case.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009146:Music; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012573:School Nursing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D012574:Schools; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology