The Problem of Recurrent Injuries in Collegiate Track and Field.
Chris Hopkins, Samantha Kanny, Catherine Headley
PMID 35693868WHAT IT FOUND
Collegiate track and field athletes missed 50% more time from sport after a recurrent injury than after a first-time injury.
This held true regardless of sex or diagnosis. Jumpers had a lower proportion of recurrent injuries than runners or throwers.
Key findings
01Recurrent injuries resulted in 50% more time loss than initial injuries after adjusting for sex and diagnosis.
02Athletes whose primary discipline was jumps experienced a lower proportion of recurrent injuries (6.1%) compared to runners (14.6%) and throwers (19.2%).
03Women’s track and field athletes experienced 27% more time loss across all injuries than Men’s track and field athletes.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study used a convenience sample of NCAA Division I, II, and III teams, so results may not apply to high school, professional, or recreational athletes. It did not account for individual training loads or specific injury-prevention practices at different institutions. The 'Runner' category did not distinguish between sprinters and distance runners, masking potential differences in injury patterns. Only injuries resulting in at least one day of missed time were included, potentially underestimating the total burden of recurrent injuries.
Declared interests
No conflicts of interest or funding sources were explicitly stated in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that all track and field athletes face the same risk of recurrent injury. The data shows a significant difference by discipline, with jumpers having a much lower proportion of recurrent injuries (6.1%) compared to throwers (19.2%) and runners (14.6%). Tailor return-to-sport criteria and prevention strategies to the specific demands of the athlete's discipline.