title: Epidemiological survey of anterior cruciate ligament injury in Japanese junior high school and high school athletes: cross-sectional study.
abstract: We investigated the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries among athletes in junior high school and high school by retrospectively reviewing Japan Sports Council notification data registered over a period of 10 years. The total number of ACL injuries during the 10-year period was 30,458, with an incidence of 0.81 per 1000 athlete-years. Among those with ACL injuries, the ratio of girls to boys was 2.8, and incidence of injury was significantly greater among girls than boys (1.36 as against 0.48). Athletes in the 11th grade demonstrated the highest incidence of ACL injuries. We also found that the greatest incidence of ACL injuries was among female high school basketball players; the second highest being among female high school Judo athletes. For sports with a greater number of ACL injuries and a higher injury rate, it is necessary to obtain more detailed data and analysis to determine an effective prevention programme.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sports Science , Japan Institute of Sports Sciences , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Saeko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: b Medical Center , Japan Institute of Sports Sciences , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okuwaki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D056352:Athletes; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001490:Basketball / Q000293:injuries; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016139:Martial Arts / Q000293:injuries; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament; adolescent; athlete; epidemiology; prevention