National survey on sports injuries in the Netherlands: target populations for sports injury prevention programs.
OBJECTIVE
To define target populations for sports injury prevention programs.


METHODS
A computer-assisted telephone survey on sports injuries and sports participation during 2000-2005 using a 3-month recall period.


METHODS
Data obtained from a representative sample of Dutch citizens.


METHODS
Fifty-eight thousand four hundred five Dutch citizens aged older than 3 years.


METHODS
Age, gender, and type of sports were used to distinguish subgroups with a substantial contribution to sports injuries.


METHODS
The absolute number of sports injuries, the incidence of sports injuries per 10,000 hours, the severity, and costs of sports injuries.


RESULTS
Sports participation was associated with 1.5 million injuries per year and 10 injuries per 10,000 hours; of these, 50% had to be treated medically. Two-thirds of all medically treated sports injuries were associated with 9 sports (representing 18 subpopulations, all younger than 55 years): outdoor soccer (males 4-54 years and females 4-17 years), indoor soccer (males 18-34 years), tennis (males/females 35-54 years), volleyball (females 18-54 years), field hockey (males 18-34 years and females 4-17 years), running/jogging (males/females 35-54 years), gymnastics (males/females 4-17 years), skiing/snowboarding (males 4-17 years and females 18-34 years), and equestrian sports (females 18-34 years). These groups showed more than average injury rates and covered two-thirds of all direct and indirect costs (euro 400 million).


CONCLUSIONS
The survey identified the most important (sports-, age-, and gender-specific) target populations for injury prevention programs in the Netherlands. Sports participants aged older than 55 years were excluded from these target groups because of their limited contribution to the total sports injury problem.
Schmikli
Sandor L
SL
Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, GA Utrecht, the Netherlands. s.l.schmikli@umcutrecht.nl
Backx
Frank J G
FJ
Kemler
Helena J
HJ
van Mechelen
Willem
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult