Descriptive epidemiology of injuries in Japanese collegiate men’s basketball: 2013/2014 to 2019/2020

Abstract

Background Basketball is one of the most played sports in the world. However, only a few studies have examined the epidemiology of Japanese collegiate men’s basketball injuries. This study investigated the incidence of injury among Japanese collegiate men’s basketball from the 2013/2014 to the 2019/2020 seasons and identified unique patterns by comparing our data with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball data. Methods Data from Japanese collegiate basketball teams of the Kanto Collegiate Basketball Federation Division I League during the 2013/2014 to 2019/2020 academic years (23 team-seasons) were used in this study. Injury rates per 1000 athlete exposures (AEs), injury proportions, and the injury rate ratio (IRR) were calculated according to the events, injury types, body parts, and common injury mechanisms. Injury rates were then compared with that from the time-loss injury data of the NCAA’s previous reports. Results In total, 480 injuries during 97,515 AEs were reported, leading to an injury rate of 4.92 per 1000 AEs (95% CI = 4.48–5.36). The overall injury rate was higher in Japan than in the NCAA ([2009/2010–2014/2015] IRR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.39–1.73; [2014/2015–2018/2019] IRR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.48–1.82). Lower extremity injuries occurred most frequently (73.5%). Ankle sprain was the most common injury in Japan, with higher injury rates than in the NCAA (IRR = 2.10; 95% CI = 1.72–2.57). The injury rate of concussion was lower in Japan than in the NCAA (IRR = 0.28; 95% CI = 0.14–0.55). Conclusions The rates of overall injury and ankle sprain were higher and that of concussion was lower in Japan than in the NCAA. These results suggested the existence of international differences in the pattern or features of injuries in basketball players.

The incidence rate of ACL injuries and ankle sprains in basketball players: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Findings from individual studies revealed that 45%–94% 14,58,60 of ankle sprains resulted in a time loss of <7 days, 12%–18% 47,49 of ankle sprains resulted in a time loss of ≥10 days, while 2%–3% 59 of ankle sprains resulted in a time loss of >3 weeks in female and male basketball players. Injury history was not reported in six (40%) included studies 4,5,52,59,61,62 while another six studies reported that recurrent ankle sprains accounted for 19%–75% 13,14,47,49,57,58 of the ankle sprains documented.…”

“…The mean score of the NHLBI Quality Assessment Scale was 70 ± 7% (range = 57%–86%, Table A2). Each of the 30 included studies in our meta‐analysis was of high quality with seven studies rated as excellent 13,14,46,62–65 and 23 studies rated as good 4,5,33,43–45,47–61,66,67 . All included studies clearly defined the objectives, participants examined, inclusion/exclusion criteria adopted, exposure of interest, timeframe adopted (years and/or period), independent variables involving repeated exposure assessments, and outcome measures.…”

“…All included studies clearly defined the objectives, participants examined, inclusion/exclusion criteria adopted, exposure of interest, timeframe adopted (years and/or period), independent variables involving repeated exposure assessments, and outcome measures. Most included studies (27 out of 30 studies) analyzed the incidence of injuries across different exposure types (training and games) 4,5,13,14,43–52,54–60,62–67 . Furthermore, seven studies reported the participation rate of eligible participants, representing at least 50% of the target population 13,14,46,61–64 .…”

“…Despite only one study 14 being included in our metaanalysis reporting the ankle sprain incidence rate (1.87 per 1000 athlete-exposures) sustained in elite basketball players, several studies examined players competing at intermediate 4,5,47,52,58,59,63 or amateur levels. 57,62,67 We observed double the ankle sprain incidence rate in intermediate (collegiate) players (1.12 per 1000 athlete-exposures) than amateur (high school) players (0.54 per 1000 athleteexposures).…”

“…Each of the 30 included studies in our meta-analysis was of high quality with seven studies rated as excellent 13,14,46,[62][63][64][65] and 23 studies rated as good. 4,5,33,[43][44][45][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61]66,67 All included studies clearly defined the objectives, participants examined, inclusion/exclusion criteria adopted, exposure of interest, timeframe adopted (years and/or period), independent variables involving repeated exposure assessments, and outcome measures. Most included studies (27 out of 30 studies) analyzed the incidence of injuries across different exposure types (training and games).…”