Background Participation rates in youth sport in Canada are high. Sport injury epidemiology studies in youth primarily focus on adolescents (ages 13–18). There is a paucity of literature examining sport injury risk in children where injury prevention practices require development and evaluation. Objective To examine sport participation and sport injury rates in elementary school students (ages 9–12). Design Cross-sectional study. Setting A survey was sent home with students in randomly selected Calgary (Canada) elementary schools (grades 4–6). Participants Elementary schools in Calgary (Canada) were randomly selected to participate (N=26 schools). A survey was completed by 540 children and parent/guardian. Risk factor assessment The primary risk factors of interest include age, sport of choice, and time spent participating in sport. Main outcome measures Sport injury was defined as any injury sustained in the previous year that required medical attention. Results Overall, 81% of participants reported participating in sport in the past year. The highest sport-specific participation was reported in soccer (18.9%), swimming (13.5%), and dance (10.8%). The overall injury incidence proportion (IIP) was 28.3 injuries/100 children/year. The medical attention IIP was 9.8 injuries/100 children/year for males and 11.4 injuries/100 children/year for females. The highest IIP for males occurred in soccer (26.0%), cycling (19.5%) and hockey (9.1%). The highest IIP for females occurred in basketball (10.6%), soccer (10.6%), and dance (9.1%). Conclusions The IIP (28.3%) and medical attention IP (10.6%) was lower than previously reported in adolescents (ages 12–18), suggesting less severe injuries in younger children. The greatest burden of sport injury occurred in soccer, cycling, and basketball. This study will inform the development of future targeted interventions within specific sports as well as within school-based curriculums to prevent sport injury in children.

BackgroundStudies examining risk factors for sport injury in elementary school children are few. The risk of sport injury in special populations including Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has not been previously examined.ObjectiveTo examine risk factors for sport injury in elementary school students (ages 9–12), including special populations (DCD and ADHD).DesignCross-sectional study.SettingA survey was sent home with students in 26 randomly selected Calgary (Canada) elementary schools.ParticipantsChildren ages 9–12 years (n=540).Risk factor assessmentThe primary risk factors of interest were probable DCD (pDCD) and ADHD. Other risk factors considered included age, sex, ethnicity, highest level of parent education, stressful life events (previous year), receiving coaching in at least 1 sport, and body mass index.Main outcome measurementsInjury definitions included any sport injury in the previous year and sport injury in the previous year requiring medical attention.ResultsBased on univariate Poisson regression (adjusted for exposure hours and cluster) the risk of all sport injury in the previous year in typically developing children did not differ from children with either pDCD (n=150, Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR=1.02 [95% CI 0.7–1.5]) or ADHD (n=87, IRR=0.94 [95% CI 0.58–1.55]). Children with ADHD were at a greater risk of sport injury requiring medical attention compared to those without ADHD (IRR: 1.82 [95% CI 1.23–2.68]). No other risk factors were identified based on univariate analysis.ConclusionsChildren (9–12 years) with pDCD and ADHD were at a similar risk of sport injury in the previous year as typically developing children. Children with ADHD were at an 82% greater risk of sport injury requiring medical attention than children without the disorder. This study will inform the development of injury prevention strategies for future studies in elementary school targeting children with ADHD.

Objective: To evaluate symptom reports (dizziness, neck pain, and headaches) and clinical measures of divided attention, cervical and vestibular function as risk factors for concussion in elite youth ice hockey players. Study Design: Cohort study. Subjects: Bantam (13-14 years) and Midget (15-17 years) male and female elite youth ice hockey players. Observation Technique: Participants completed a preseason demographic questionnaire, reported symptoms, and completed a battery of baseline clinical tests at the beginning of the season. A previously validated injury surveillance system was used. Players with a suspected concussion (identified by team therapists) were referred to the study sport medicine physician for assessment. Multivariate Poisson regression analyses were used to estimate risk of concussion using Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR), adjusted for cluster by team and exposure hours. Outcome Measures: The primary outcome of interest was concussion (defined according to international consensus guidelines) with confirmed diagnosis by sport medicine physician. Exposure variables included cervical flexor endurance test, cervical flexion rotation test, joint position error, head perturbation test, isometric anterolateral neck strength, head thrust test, dynamic visual acuity (DVA) (clinical and computerized), Functional Gait Assessment, and Walking While Talking test. Results: Individuals reporting a headache at the start of the season were 1.73 (95% CI, 1.17-2.54) times more likely to be diagnosed with a concussion during the season. Individuals reporting a headache or dizziness were more likely to be diagnosed with a concussion resulting in a time loss of .10 days [IRR = 2.27 (95% CI, 1.42-3.63) and IRR = 2.00 (95% CI, 1.06-3.78)]. Individuals who scored less than perfect on the Functional Gait Assessment were 1.98 (95% CI, 1.12-3.48) times more likely to experience a concussion with a time loss of .10 days. A poorer score on computerized DVA 85°/sec right score was protective of concussion [IRR = 0.15 (95% CI, 0.023-0.94)]. Conclusions: Symptom reports and clinical measures are intrinsic characteristics that may identify individuals at increased risk of concussion. Further evaluation to better understand the effects of a combination of these measures, to inform development of prevention strategies in high risk sport participants and utility of these measures in other populations and sports is warranted. Objective: To examine the association between previous history of concussion and Child SCAT3 scores in 11-and 12-year-old ice hockey players. Study Design: Cross-sectional. Subjects: Pee Wee ice hockey players (ages 11-12) representing all divisions of play (Calgary and Edmonton) participating during the 2013/2014 season (n = 714, male = 656, female = 58). Outcome Measures: Baseline symptoms [parent and child report (each/20 symptoms)], Standardized Assessment of Concussion [SAC (/30)], modified Balance Error Scoring System [BESS (/20)] scores, and timed tandem gait scores (in seconds) were measured using the Chi...

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