Motivation for sports participation, injury prevention expectations, injury risk perceptions and health problems in youth floorball players

Influence of quarantine during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on physical and psychosocial aspects: perceptions of 214 Brazilian athletes

Background

Social distancing may affect athletes' training, causing negative effects on mental and physical health.

Objective

This study therefore aimed to characterize the perception of Brazilian athletes about their physical and psychosocial aspects, sleep quality and coping strategies during the quarantine of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study with online survey, performed with Brazilian athletes (amateur and professional) over 18 years. The main outcomes measures assessed were physical and psychosocial aspects, sleep quality and coping strategies.

Results

A total of 214 athletes were included. The average weekly hours of training during the quarantine was 4.71 ± 3.71 h, of which 64.5% athletes (138/214) were oriented by medical staff during training. For 52.8% (113/214) of athletes, training intensity during the quarantine was different/very different from the intensity before the quarantine. 79.4% athletes (170/214) reported moderate to extreme difficulties in keeping the same level of training during the quarantine. 77.1% athletes (165/214) had moderate to extreme anxiety and each of the athletes had concern about his or her athletic career future, including return to the sport. 72.9% athletes (156/214) reported change in sleep schedule during the quarantine period.

Conclusion

The quarantine period during COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the athlete's perception about training routine, since athletes reported reduction in training hours and training intensity. Overall, the athletes reported that they were moderately to extremely anxious. They also had concerns about their career in the future, as well as concerns regarding return to sport.

Risk factors for injury and illness in youth floorball players - A prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate risk factors for injury and illness in female and male youth floorball players (12-17 years) during a 26-week floorball season.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Recreational youth sport.

PARTICIPANTS

471 players (142 females) 12-17 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Weekly survey including questions about stress, sleep quality, well-being, sport exposure and average weekly rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) was calculated. The Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center questionnaire on health problems was used. Predictors of new injury and illness were examined using multi-level logistic regression models with weekly measures nested within individuals.

RESULTS

Higher stress, poorer sleep quality and well-being increased the odds of a new injury in the subsequent week by 8% (2.0-13.5%), 10% (4.2-15.9%) and 8% (2.4-13.5%) per 1 unit increase. Higher stress, and poorer well-being increased the odds of illness by 8% (2.6-12.6%), and 12% (7.2-16.6%). ACWR below 0.8 or above 1.3 increased the odds of illness by 34% (4.9-70.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Perceived stress, well-being, and sleep quality were associated with injury and illness occurrence in the subsequent week. ACWR outside the range 0.8-1.3 was associated with illness the subsequent week.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Trials registration NCT03309904.

Risk Factors of Sports-Related Injury in School-Aged Children and Adolescents: A Retrospective Questionnaire Survey

Studies conducting quantitative surveys in school-aged children and adolescents help identify sports-related risk factors for acute and overuse injuries are scarce. This study aimed to quantify the risk factors for sports-related injury in school-aged children and adolescents by school categories. University students (n = 484) retrospectively recalled their sports experiences and related injuries in a questionnaire according to the following school categories: lower elementary school (LE), upper elementary school (UE), junior high school (JH), and high school (H). Both sports-related acute and overuse injuries were recorded. After adjusting various covariates, weekly hours in sports were identified as a significant risk factor in LE and UE. The interaction of weekly hours in sports and sports specialization was significant in LE and UE, suggesting that early specialization would be a risk factor in lower school categories. In JH and H, female sex, high-level competition, and injury experienced in a previous school category were significantly related to sports-related injuries. In conclusion, weekly hours in sports, high-level competitions, previous injury experience, and sex were confirmed as risk factors in specific school categories. Most identified risk factors are modifiable, suggesting that sports-related injuries can be prevented in school-aged children and adolescents.

Function of Perceived Corporate Social Responsibility in Safety of Sports Activities and Home Aerobic Equipment in the Late Period of COVID-19

The pandemic has impacted various industries, including the sports industry. However, corporate social responsibility (CSR) can mitigate the adverse effects of the crisis and promote the sports industry. To analyze the effect of CSR, the study examined the impact of perceived corporate social responsibility on injury prevention expectation, injury risk perception, and health up-gradation with the mediation of sports safety measures. There are 259 sportsmen of local sports bodies provided the data through a self-administered survey. Data analysis was conducted through Smart-PLS and SEM techniques. The outcome of the analysis showed that perceived corporate social responsibility leads to injury prevention expectation, injury risk perception, and health up-gradation. Also, the study found that sports safety measure mediates the relationship between perceived corporate social responsibility and injury prevention expectation, between perceived corporate social responsibility and injury risk perception, and between perceived corporate social responsibility and health up-gradation among sportsmen of local sports bodies. The theoretical implications were presented related to the significance of CSR and sports safety measure and their impact on sportsmen injury prevention expectation, health, and risk perception. The practical implications were related to the management of local sports bodies and how they can induce CSR initiatives and programs. Some limitations related to sample size, incorporating other variables, examining the model in other contexts, and using different study designs, have also been mentioned in the study.

Illness prevalence and symptoms in youth floorball players: a one-season prospective cohort study involving 471 players

OBJECTIVE

To describe weekly illness prevalence and illness symptoms by sex in youth floorball players during one season.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Players who were registered to play community level floorball during the 2017-2018 season (26 weeks) in two provinces in southern Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

471 youth players aged 12-17 years. Mean (SD) age for 329 male players 13.3 (1.0) years and 142 female players 13.7 (1.5) years.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Weekly self-reported illness prevalence and illness symptoms according to the 2020 International Olympic Committee's consensus recommendations.

RESULTS

61% of youth floorball players reported at least one illness week during the season, with an average weekly illness prevalence of 12% (95% CI 10.8% to 12.3%). The prevalence was slightly higher among females (13%, 95% CI 11.6% to 14.3%) than males (11%, 95% CI 9.9% to 11.7%), prevalence rate ratio 1.20 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.37, p=0.009). In total, 49% (53% male, 43% female) of illness reports indicated that the player could not participate in floorball (time loss), with a mean (SD) absence of 2.0 (1.7) days per illness week. Fever (30%), sore throat (16%) and cough (14%) were the most common symptoms. Female players more often reported difficulty in breathing/tight airways and fainting, and male players more often reported coughing, feeling tired/feverish and headache. Illness prevalence was highest in the peak winter months (late January/February) reaching 15%-18% during this period.

CONCLUSIONS

Our novel findings of the illness prevalence and symptoms in youth floorball may help direct prevention strategies. Athletes, coaches, parents and support personnel need to be educated about risk mitigation strategies.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03309904.

Results of a tri-national online survey on the current status of sports injury prevention among members of the German-Speaking Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Society (GOTS)

OBJECTIVES

 To assess the current opinions and state of knowledge in primary sports injury prevention among members of the German-Speaking Society for Orthopaedic and Traumatologic Sports Medicine (GOTS).

METHODS

 On 21 August 2019, a web-based questionnaire was sent to the members of the tri-national society GOTS (Austria, Germany and Switzerland). The survey was online until 21 November 2019 and included twenty-two questions, which were divided into five sections: 1) general importance of prevention (n = 4), 2) specifications of the study population (n = 3), 3) implementation of prevention (n = 8), 4) improvement opportunities in prevention (n = 4) and 5) future research areas (n = 3).

RESULTS

 A total of 272 participants completed the survey, representing a total survey participation of 17.7 % of all members. The study population consisted of orthopaedic surgeons (55 % with surgical and 21 % with non-operative orientation), medical students (10 %), physical therapists (8 %) and sports scientists (4 %). Ninety-four percent of all participants stated that they considered the importance of sports injury prevention to be "very high" (68 %) or "high" (26 %). However, almost 70 % of all participants stated that they spend less than one hour per week on injury prevention work. The term "prevention" was clearly defined and practicable for only 40 %, understandable but difficult to implement for 51 %, and unclear and difficult to implement for 9 % of the participants. Seventy-two percent of respondents were aware of existing prevention programs such as "Stop-X" or "FIFA 11 +", whereas 28 % of participants were uninformed regarding these programs.

CONCLUSIONS

 A strong divergence was identified between participants' perception of the importance of sports injury prevention and the existing implementation of preventive measures. Future funding of prevention programs, expansion of research strategies for injury prevention and better financial reimbursement are of utmost importance.

Rugby Health and Well-Being Study: protocol for a UK-wide survey with health data cross-validation

INTRODUCTION

Rugby football (Union and League) provides physical activity (PA) with related physical and mental health benefits. However, as a collision sport, rugby research and media coverage predominantly focus on injuries in elite players while the overall impact on health and well-being remains unclear. This study aims to provide a greater understanding of the risks and benefits of rugby participation in a diverse sample of men and women, current and former rugby Union and League players from recreational to the elite level of play. We will explore: (1) joint-specific injuries and concussion; (2) joint pain and osteoarthritis (OA); (3) medical and mental health conditions; (4) PA and sedentary behaviour and (5) well-being (quality of life, flourishing and resilience).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The Rugby Health and Well-being Study is designed in two phases: (1) a UK-wide cross-sectional survey and (2) cross-validation using health register data from Scotland. Participants will be at least 16 years old, current or former rugby players who have played rugby for at least one season. We will report standardised, level of play-, sex- and age-stratified prevalence of joint injury, concussion, medical conditions and PA. We will describe injury/concussion prevention expectations and protective equipment use. Rugby-related factors associated with injury, pain, OA, PA, health and well-being will be explored in regression models. We will compare joint pain intensity and duration, elements of pain perception and well-being between recreational and elite players and further investigate these associations in regression models while controlling for confounding variables. In the second phase, we will validate self-reported with health register data, and provide further information on healthcare use.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The Yorkshire and the Humber-Leeds East Research Ethics Committee (REC reference: 19/HY/0377) has approved this study (IRAS project ID 269424). The results will be disseminated through scientific publications, conferences and social media.

Étude sur la perception des blessures par les athlètes et leurs influences sur la réalisation de mesures de prévention des blessures en athlétisme

Introduction

Mieux comprendre les conséquences psychologiques d’une blessure et l’influence de celle-ci sur les modifications de comportement et la réalisation d’un programme de prévention semble pertinent pour la prise en charge thérapeutique et dans une optique de prévention. Ainsi, l’objectif de cette présente étude a donc été (1) d’analyser la perception des blessures par les athlètes, et (2) d’analyser l’influence de celles-ci sur la réalisation de mesures de prévention.

Méthodes

Nous avons conduit une étude observationnelle quantitative rétrospective nationale de recueil du ressenti des athlètes de compétition licenciés à la Fédération française d’athlétisme vis-à-vis de leurs antécédents de blessures, leur perception de la blessure et les programmes de prévention des blessures, par un questionnaire informatique envoyé aux athlètes au printemps 2020.

Résultats

Au total, 7712 réponses d’athlètes ont été incluses dans cette analyse, incluant 37 % de femmes et 63 % d’hommes, âgés de 37,9 ± 14,8 ans (de 18 à 87 ans), allant de niveau international à départemental, couvrant toutes les disciplines de l’athlétisme. Soixante-dix pour cent des athlètes n’avaient jamais réalisé de programme de prévention des blessures durant leur carrière, alors que 30 % estimaient en avoir suivi un de manière partielle ou totale. Quatre-vingt dix pour cent des athlètes avaient eu au moins une blessure depuis le début de leur pratique. Les sportifs rapportaient qu’une blessure engendrait une tristesse, une frustration, un dégoût et une préoccupation de se refaire mal au même endroit. Ils étaient conscients qu’une mauvaise prise en charge pouvait entraîner une récidive ou une nouvelle blessure. Les athlètes avec antécédent de blessure réalisaient significativement plus un programme de prévention des lésions que ceux ne s’étant jamais blessés. Ceux s’étant déjà blessés croyaient en l’efficacité des programmes de prévention, davantage que ceux sans antécédent de blessure. En revanche, il n’y avait pas de différence de perception de l’intérêt de mesures préventives telles que l’hygiène de vie, l’écoute de son corps, de ses douleurs et de sa fatigue entre les athlètes avec et sans antécédent de blessures.

Conclusion

Une blessure peut entraîner des conséquences psychologiques non négligeables pour l’athlète. Ses répercussions sont importantes à prendre en compte dans la prise en charge globale des lésions.

"It takes a village": the sources and types of support in development of male cricket players

OBJECTIVES

To explore the different types of support (e.g., financial, informational) and support providers (e.g., fathers, siblings) in the development of male cricket players across different levels of skill expertise.

METHODS

A quantitative questionnaire (developed as a part of a broader Australian Research Council Linkage project) assessing support providers and types of support accessed by players was distributed to participants through involvement with a national sporting organisation. Descriptive trends across support types for each provider were explored for the total cohort of athletes, n=1383 (as relative percentages), and community and elite differences were explored using chi-squared analyses (p<0.05).

RESULTS

Mothers and fathers were primary providers of financial and emotional support (>80%), mentors offered meaningful sport-specific informational and technical (or coaching related) support, and siblings and peers played an integral development role in acting as fellow participants for practice and play. Access to coaching emerged as a dominant point of difference between community and elite players consistently across all support providers (p<0.05). Mentors and siblings also featured more frequently for elite players across broader ranges of support factors (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Regardless of level of skill expertise, there were unique context-specific roles that different providers played in supporting cricket players. When differentiating between levels of expertise, elite players drew on more "contact" points to assist them in accessing the right type of coaching. Mentors and siblings also featured more frequently for elite players across a broader range of support factors. Taken together, these findings show that elite players are distinguished in their reliance on multiple components within a complex family system, bolstered by additional significant others. This work further underscores the previously limited exploration of social networks in athlete development, highlighting avenues for continued enquiry and action in sport development systems.

Forty-five per cent lower acute injury incidence but no effect on overuse injury prevalence in youth floorball players (aged 12-17 years) who used an injury prevention exercise programme: two-armed parallel-group cluster randomised controlled trial

Objective

To study whether an injury prevention exercise programme would reduce the number of injuries in youth floorball players.

Methods 

81 youth community level floorball teams (48 clusters=clubs) with female and male players (12–17 years) were cluster-randomised into an intervention or control group. Intervention group coaches were instructed to use the Swedish Knee Control programme and a standard running warm-up before every training session, and the running warm-up before every match, during the season. Control teams continued usual training. Teams were followed during the 2017/2018 competitive season (26 weeks). Player exposure to floorball and occurrence of acute and overuse injuries were reported weekly via a web-based player survey using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire.

Results 

17 clusters (301 players) in the intervention group and 12 clusters (170 players) in the control group were included for analyses. There were 349 unique injuries in 222 players. The intervention group had a 35% lower incidence of injuries overall than the control group (adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.65, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.81). The absolute risk reduction was 6.6% (95% CI 3.2 to 10.0), and the number needed to treat was 152 hours of floorball exposure (95% CI 100 to 316). Intervention group teams had a 45% lower incidence of acute injuries (adjusted IRR 0.55, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.83). There was no difference in the prevalence of overuse injuries (adjusted prevalence rate ratio 0.96, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.26).

Conclusion 

The Knee Control injury prevention programme reduced acute injuries in youth floorball players; there was no effect on overuse injuries.

Trial registration number

Clinical Trials NCT03309904.