title: Injuries and disorders among young ice skaters: relationship with generalized joint laxity and tightness.
abstract: This study retrospectively investigated 192 teenage speed and figure skaters with prior injuries documented by an athletes' questionnaire, who underwent a physical examination to assess their muscle tightness and generalized joint laxity. In all athletes, the degree of muscle tightness and joint laxity were measured by a standardized physical examination. A descriptive report of the types of injuries showed a predominance of fractures, ligament injuries, enthesitis, and lower back pain. Approximately 5% of all skaters tested positive for tightness, while 25.8% of figure skaters and 15.2% of speed skaters had generalized ligamentous laxity. Statistical testing showed an association between ankle sprains and muscle tightness, and an association between knee enthesitis and muscle tightness in skating athletes. There was also an association between lower back pain and generalized joint laxity, which held true only for the male skaters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tazawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sohmiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ibe
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Gunma University School of Health Science, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Usuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shirakura
keywords: joint laxity; junior athlete; medical checkup; skating; sports injury; tightness