THU0359 Half of High School Students Playing Sports Experience Injuries, Even More with Contact Sports: Time for New Regulations?

Abstract

Background Many students participate in sports during high school, with many of them taking part in multiple sports depending on the season. Injuries sustained during these activities may impact future participation and overall health of the student. Objectives To determine the prevalence, rate and possible risk factors for high school sports injuries Methods A sports injury survey was administered to high school students' self-reporting sports activity during the past year. Sport played, level of play (varsity, junior varsity or club level), occurrence of injury and duration of injury were recorded. 15 sports were queried in the survey; sports were classified into contact sports vs non-contact sports. Statistical analysis of the categorical data was completed using Chi-square test of independence and logistic regression. Results 214 high school students reporting some level of sports activity over the previous year completed the injury survey; 109 (51%) were male and average 16.2 (±1.1) years of age. 105 (49%) participants reported suffering an injury during the previous year, with 64 (59%) of the injuries lasting less than three weeks in duration. Of these 105 injuries, 68 (65%) occurred while playing a contact sport (defined as soccer, football, basketball, wrestling, lacrosse, ice and field hockey). For those playing a contact sport, unadjusted odds of receiving an injury were 3300% increased over those playing a non-contact sport (OR=34.0, 95% CI:(8.3, 138.7), P<0.001); logistic regression model adjusting for age and gender also estimated a significant effect. In a logistic regression model, an association between injury lasting three weeks or longer and level of sport played, contact sport, gender and age failed to be statistically established. Conclusions ∼50% of high school students participating in sports, and 65% of those paying contact had an injury. Most injuries lasted less than 3 weeks. Long-term impact of these injuries needs further study. These high rates of injury to high school age children may require possible more oversight and regulation of these activities. Disclosure of Interest : None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.5543