title: The epidemiology of NCAA men's lacrosse injuries, 2009/10-2014/15 academic years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Participation in lacrosse has grown at the collegiate levels. However, little research has examined the epidemiology of collegiate men's lacrosse injuries. This study describes the epidemiology of injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's lacrosse during the 2009/10-2014/15 academic years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five men's lacrosse programs provided 63 team-seasons of data for the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program (NCAA-ISP) during the 2009/10-2014/15 academic years. Injuries occurred from participation in an NCAA-sanctioned practice or competition, and required attention from an AT or physician. Injuries were further classified as time loss (TL) injuries if the injury restricted participation for at least 24 h. Injuries were reported through electronic medical record application used by the team medical staff throughout the academic year. Injury rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AE), injury rate ratios (RR), 95% confidence intervals (CI), and injury proportions were reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 1055 men's lacrosse injuries were reported, leading to an injury rate of 5.29/1000AE; 95%CI: 4.98-5.61. The TL injury rate was 2.74/1000AE (95%CI: 2.51-2.96). The overall injury rate was higher in competition than practice (12.35 vs. 3.90/1000AE; RR = 3.16; 95%CI: 2.79-3.58). Most injuries were to the lower extremity (58.3%), particularly the ankle (14.1%) in competition and the upper leg (14.3%) in practice. Sprains and strains were the most common diagnoses in both competition (26.9 and 23.7%, respectively) and practice (20.2% and 27.4%, respectively). Most injuries in competitions and practices were due to player contact (32.8 and 17.5%, respectively) and non-contact (29.6 and 40.0%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our estimated injury rates are lower than those from previous college men's lacrosse research. This may be due to increased injury awareness, advances in injury prevention exercise programs, or rule changes. Still, injury prevention can aim to continue reducing the incidence and severity of injury, particularly those sustained in competitions and to the lower extremity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina, 313 Woollen Gym CB#8700, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-8700, USA. zkerr@email.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Zachary Y
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Blatt Physical Education Center, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quigley
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, PHRC 226, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
authors.forename: Susan W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Yeargin
authors.affiliation: MedStar Sports Medicine Research Center, 201 E. University Parkway, 764 Bauernschmidt Bldg, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Lincoln
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Blatt Physical Education Center, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mensch
authors.affiliation: George Mason University, Sports Medicine Assessment, Research & Testing (SMART) Laboratory, 10900 University Blvd. MS 4E5, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA.
authors.forename: Shane V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Caswell
authors.affiliation: Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research and Prevention, 401 W. Michigan St., Suite 500, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Dompier
keywords: Checking; College sports; Injury rates; Lacrosse; Prevention