title: Analysis of sex-specific injury patterns and risk factors in young high-level athletes.
abstract: This study analyzed sex-specific injury patterns and risk factors in young athletes (n=256) from 12 sport disciplines practicing at the national or the international level in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. Injury occurrence as a result of sport practice was analyzed retrospectively over the year 2006 using a standardized self-administered questionnaire. Overall incidence was not different between girls and boys (1.20 and 1.21 injuries/1000 athlete-hours, respectively), but in the context of team sport competition girls tended to be at a greater risk (rate ratio 2.05, P=0.053). Girls had a higher proportion of injuries in the ankle/foot region compared with boys (34.8% vs 16.8%). No sex-related differences were found regarding injury severity. Multivariate logistic regression (controlling for age and practice volume) revealed that girls' team sports were associated with a greater injury risk compared with individual sports [odds ratio (OR) of 4.76], while in boys this was observed for racket sports (OR=3.31). Furthermore, physical or emotional stress tended to be a specific risk factor in girls. There was a tendency for injury outside sports to be coupled to a higher injury risk in girls and boys. Consideration of sex-specific injury patterns and risk factors could be of importance for effective injury prevention.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Etudes en Santé, Centre de Recherche Public de la Santé, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frisch
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seil
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urhausen
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Croisier
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lair
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Theisen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008189:Luxembourg / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000145:classification; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices