Epidemiology and pain in elementary school-aged players: a survey of Japanese badminton players participating in the national tournament

Abstract

Pain is common in athletes which should be well managed. To identify risk factors for shoulder pain, and the association between shoulder pain, lower back pain and knee pain among elementary school-aged badminton players, we conducted a cross-sectional study to collect data of the past year among 611 elementary school age (7–12 years old) badminton players belonging to the Japan Schoolchildren Badminton Federation using a questionnaire. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. The overall incidence rate of shoulder injuries, lower back injuries and knee injuries was 0.38 injuries per 1000 h of badminton training. Players with training time per day > 2.5 h were 2.64 times (95% CI 1.03–6.78, p = 0.043) more likely to sustain shoulder pain than those with training time per day ≤ 2.5 h. A significant association was revealed between shoulder pain and knee pain as well as between lower back pain and knee pain as training hours per day > 2.5 h. Moreover, lower back pain was significantly associated with shoulder pain independent of training hours per day (≤ 2.5 h: p = 0.001; > 2.5 h: p < 0.001). These findings indicate that training time per day is risk factor, and shoulder pain, lower back pain and knee pain were associated with each other in elementary school-aged badminton players.

Risk Factors for, and Prediction of, Shoulder Pain in Young Badminton Players: A Prospective Cohort Study

“…Epidemiological studies have shown that the most common injuries among badminton players are overuse injuries [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ], with the proportion of overuse injuries being three times higher than that of trauma injuries [ 6 , 7 ]. Most scientific studies have found a prevalence of overuse injuries of more than 71% in different age groups and competitive levels, e.g., recreational players [ 5 ], competitive players at national level [ 5 , 7 ] and competitive players at international level [ 8 ].…”

Mechanism for shoulder pain and injury in elite badminton players

“…The execution of smooth and coordinated neuromuscular action is vital for badminton overhead motion performance which could be improved by balance training. Plus, weaker balance ability is a risk factor for shoulder pain [11] . The advanced exercise program and plyometric trainings on balance improved balance ability [29,30] , which might be implemented in badminton.…”

“…As for badminton players, our previous studies showed that training hours of per day, decreased trunk rotation and weak balance ability were risk factors for shoulder pain [11,12] . Although previous badminton studies adopted biomechanics to examine forehand overhead stroke motion [5,13,14] , no studies on the association of forehand overhead stroke motion phases and shoulder pain and injury were found.…”

Assessing the Association of Shoulder Pain Risk with Physical Fitness in Badminton Players at National Tournament Level

“…Badminton, requiring multi-limb coordination and balance ability of players to transfer body core mass, and simultaneously perform trunk rotation and upper extremity strength and rotation, is one kind of overhead motion sports played by over 330 million people all over the world (1,2). Due to the characteristics of the sport and the frequency at which overhead motions occur, shoulder injuries and pain are common musculoskeletal problems experienced by badminton players (3)(4)(5). Previous studies on the epidemiology of badminton injuries have reported the prevalence of shoulder injuries accounted for 1.4% -19.0% among 7 -57-year-old badminton players (5)(6)(7)(8).…”

“…Due to the characteristics of the sport and the frequency at which overhead motions occur, shoulder injuries and pain are common musculoskeletal problems experienced by badminton players (3)(4)(5). Previous studies on the epidemiology of badminton injuries have reported the prevalence of shoulder injuries accounted for 1.4% -19.0% among 7 -57-year-old badminton players (5)(6)(7)(8). More than half of the badminton players complained of shoulder pain; over one-third of whom continued to play badminton with ongoing pain (3,4).…”