IntroductionSeveral intrinsic risk factors for lower extremity injuries have been proposed, including lack of proper knee and body control during landings and cutting manoeuvres, low muscular strength, reduced balance and increased ligament laxity, but there are still many unanswered questions. The overall aim of this research project is to investigate anatomical, biomechanical, neuromuscular, genetic and demographic risk factors for traumatic non-contact lower extremity injuries in young team sport athletes. Furthermore, the research project aims to develop clinically oriented screening tools for predicting future injury risk.MethodsYoung female and male players (n=508) from nine basketball teams, nine floorball teams, three ice hockey teams, and one volleyball team accepted the invitation to participate in this four-and-half-year prospective follow-up study. The players entered the study either in 2011, 2012 or 2013, and gave blood samples, performed physical tests and completed the baseline questionnaires. Following the start of screening tests, the players will be followed for sports injuries through December 2015. The primary outcome is a traumatic non-contact lower extremity injury. The secondary outcomes are other sports-related injuries. Injury risk is examined on the basis of anatomical, biomechanical, neuromuscular, genetic and other baseline factors. Univariate and multivariate regression models will be used to investigate association between investigated parameters and injury risk.

A few prospective studies have investigated hip and pelvic control as a risk factor for lower extremity (LE) injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether deficits in hip and lumbopelvic control during standing knee‐lift test are associated with increased risk of acute knee and LE injuries in youth team sports. At baseline, 258 basketball and floorball players (aged 12‐21 years) participated in a standing knee‐lift test using 3‐dimensional motion analysis. Two trials per leg were recorded from each participant. Peak sagittal plane pelvic tilt and frontal plane pelvic drop/hike were measured. Both continuous and categorical variables were analyzed. New non‐contact LE injuries, and match and training exposure, were recorded for 12 months. Seventy acute LE injuries were registered. Of these, 17 were knee injuries (eight ACL ruptures) and 35 ankle injuries. Risk factor analyses showed that increased contralateral pelvic hike was significantly associated with knee injury risk when using categorical variable (HR for high vs low group 4.07; 95% CI 1.32‐12.6). Furthermore, significant association was found between high lateral pelvic hike angles and ACL injury risk in female players (HR for high vs low group 9.10; 95% CI 1.10‐75.2). Poor combined sensitivity and specificity of the test was observed. In conclusion, increased contralateral pelvic hike is associated with non‐contact knee injury risk among young team sport players and non‐contact ACL injuries among female players. More research to determine the role of pelvic control as a risk factor for knee injuries is needed.

Background: The identification of risk factors for sports injuries is essential before injury prevention strategies can be planned. Hypothesis: Previous acute knee injury and lower perceived knee function measured by Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) will increase the risk of acute knee injury in youth team-sports athletes. Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: At baseline, youth (≤21 years old) male and female basketball and floorball athletes completed a questionnaire on previous acute knee injuries and perceived knee function (KOOS). A total of 211 male and 183 female athletes were followed for an acute knee injury up to 3 years. Unadjusted and adjusted Cox regression models were used in risk factor analyses. Results: In male athletes, previous acute knee injury and lower KOOS Pain, Activities of Daily Living, Sport and Recreation, and knee-related Quality of Life subscale scores increased the risk of acute knee injury in the unadjusted analyses. Adjusted analyses for male injuries were not performed because of low number of acute knee injuries (n = 18). In female athletes, previous acute knee injury increased the risk of acute knee injury when adjusted for athletes’ age and body mass index (hazard ratio, 2.6 [95% CI, 1.3-5.2]). In female athletes, none of the KOOS subscale scores were associated with the increased risk of acute knee injury in the adjusted analyses. Conclusion: Previous acute knee injury was associated with the risk of new acute knee injury in youth male and female athletes. In youth male athletes, additionally, lower perceived knee function in 4 out of 5 KOOS subscale scores were associated with the increased risk of new acute knee injury. Clinical Relevance: The treatment and rehabilitation of the present acute knee injury and secondary prevention of reinjury should be emphasized in youth team-sports athletes.

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