Non-Time-Loss and Time-Loss Injuries in Secondary School Girls' Volleyball Athletes: A Report From the National Athletic Treatment, Injury, and Outcomes Network Surveillance Program.

CONTEXT: Volleyball is a popular sport with a risk of injury to the entire body. Insight into non-time-loss (NTL) and time-loss (TL) injuries is needed to inform seasonal injury trends that may lead to appropriate prevention and management strategies. This study provides a descriptive analysis of volleyball injuries among secondary school athletes. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study. METHODS: Data were collected from 72 secondary schools, representing 135 team seasons of data from the National Athletic Treatment, Injury, and Outcomes Network Surveillance Program (2014-2015 to 2018-2019 academic years). Injury counts, injury rates (IR) per 1000 athlete exposures (AEs), and incidence rate ratios (IRR) were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: In total, 529 injuries over 193,858 AEs for girls' volleyball were captured, producing an IR of 2.73/1000AEs (95% CI = 2.50-2.96). The overall IR was highest during the preseason compared with regular season (IRR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.09-1.59). Overall IRs were higher in competition (IR: 3.56, 95% CI = 3.07-4.05) compared with practice (IR: 2.38, 95% CI = 2.12-2.64; IRR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.25-1.79). Common body locations injured were ankle (n = 141, 26.7%; NTL: n = 56, 21.7%; TL: n = 85, 31.7%), knee (n = 61, 11.5%; NTL: n = 33, 12.8%, TL: n = 28, 10.5%), hand/wrist (n = 59, 11.2%; NTL: n = 32, 12.4%, TL: n = 27, 10.1%), and head/face (n = 62, 11.7%; NTL: n = 14, 5.4%; TL: n = 47, 17.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Volleyball IRs were highest in preseason and during competition. Most injuries affected the lower-extremity which is notable considering the high upper-extremity load in volleyball. Consideration of strategies to reduce injuries prior to the start of the formal sports season may be needed to help reduce the incidence of preseason injuries.

Epidemiology of Overuse Injuries in US Secondary School Athletics From 2014-2015 to 2018-2019 Using the National Athletic Treatment, Injury and Outcomes Network Surveillance Program.

CONTEXT: With 8 million annual US high school student-athletes, the epidemiology of sport-related injuries has garnered significant interest. The most recent studies examining overuse injury rates in high school sports were based on data from 2012 to 2013 and, therefore, may not reflect current overuse injury rates in high school sports. OBJECTIVE: To (1) determine overuse time-loss (TL) and non-time-loss (NTL) injury rates among high school student-athletes using National Athletic Treatment, Injury and Outcomes Network Surveillance Program (NATION-SP) data collected from 2014-2015 to 2018-2019 and (2) compare overuse injury rates based on student-athlete sex defined by whether it was a boys' sport or a girls' sport, the sport itself, and the injury location. DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study. SETTING: Online injury surveillance from 211 high schools (345 individual years of high school data). PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Athletes who participated in secondary school-sponsored boys' or girls' sports. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Boys' and girls' overuse injury data from the NATION-SP during the 2014-2015 to 2018-2019 school years were analyzed. Overuse injuries were identified using a combination of the reported injury mechanism and diagnosis. Time-loss injuries resulted in restriction from participation beyond the day of injury; NTL injuries did not result in restriction from participation beyond the day of injury or involved no lost time due to the injury. Injury counts, rates, and rate ratios (IRRs) were reported with 95% CIs. RESULTS: The total overuse injury rate was 5.3/10 000 athlete-exposures (AEs; 95% CI = 5.1, 5.7), the NTL overuse injury rate was 3.4/10 000 AEs (95% CI = 3.1, 3.6), and the TL overuse injury rate was 2.0/10 000 AEs (95% CI = 1.8, 2.2). The overuse injury rate was greater in girls' sports compared with boys' sports (IRR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.7, 2.1). The highest rates of overuse injury were observed in girls' cross-country (19.2/10 000 AEs; 95% CI = 15.0, 24.2), girls' track and field (16.0/10 000 AEs; 95% CI = 13.5, 18.8), and girls' field hockey (15.1/10 000 AEs; 95% CI = 10.2, 21.6). Overuse injury rates were higher for the lower extremity than the upper extremity (IRR = 5.7; 95% CI = 4.9, 6.7) and for the lower extremity than the trunk and spine (IRR = 8.9; 95% CI = 7.3, 10.8). CONCLUSIONS: Awareness of the overuse injury risk, as well as prevention and intervention recommendations, is necessary and should be specifically targeted at cross-country, field hockey, and track and field athletes.

Epidemiology of Concussions in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Sports: 2014/15-2018/19.

BACKGROUND: Updated epidemiology studies examining sports-related concussions (SRCs) are critical in evaluating recent efforts aimed at reducing the incidence of SRCs in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports. PURPOSE: To describe the epidemiology of SRCs in 23 NCAA sports during the 2014/15-2018/19 academic years. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study. METHODS: SRC and exposure data collected in the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics by sport, event type (practices, competitions), injury mechanism (player contact, surface contact, equipment/apparatus contact), and injury history (new, recurrent). Injury rate ratios (IRRs) were used to examine differential injury rates, and injury proportion ratios (IPRs) were used to examine differential distributions. RESULTS: A total of 3497 SRCs from 8,474,400 athlete-exposures (AEs) were reported during the study period (4.13 per 10,000 AEs); the competition-related SRC rate was higher than was the practice-related SRC rate (IRR, 4.12; 95% CI, 3.86-4.41). The highest SRC rates were observed in men's ice hockey (7.35 per 10,000 AEs) and women's soccer (7.15 per 10,000 AEs); rates in women's soccer and volleyball increased during 2015/16-2018/19. Player contact was the most prevalently reported mechanism in men's sports (77.0%), whereas equipment/apparatus contact was the most prevalently reported mechanism in women's sports (39.2%). Sex-related differences were observed in soccer, basketball, softball/baseball, and swimming and diving. Most SRCs reported in men's sports (84.3%) and women's sports (81.1%) were reported as new injuries. CONCLUSION: Given the increasing SRC rates observed in women's soccer and volleyball during the latter years of the study, these results indicate the need to direct further attention toward trajectories of SRC incidence in these sports. The prevalence of equipment/apparatus contact SRCs in women's sports also suggests that SRC mechanisms in women's sports warrant further investigation. As most SRCs during the study period were reported as new injuries, the prevalence of recurrent SRCs in men's and women's ice hockey is also noteworthy.

Secondary School Socioeconomic Status and Athletic Training Practice Characteristics.

CONTEXT: Socioeconomic status (SES) is a significant predictor of morbidity and mortality across health outcomes. Limited information exists on how school SES affects athletic training practice when a certified athletic trainer (AT) is present at secondary schools. OBJECTIVE: To describe contact frequencies and service rates provided by ATs for injuries among secondary school student-athletes and how these differ by school SES. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: The number of athletic training facility (ATF) visit days and AT services were collected from 77 secondary schools. Schools were separated into 3 school SES groups: affluent (n = 31), average (n = 29), and disadvantaged (n = 17). PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Secondary school student-athletes who participated in ≥1 of 12 boys' or 11 girls' sports, visited the ATF during the 2014-2015 through 2018-2019 academic years, and received athletic or nonathletic injury care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Contact frequencies were expressed as ATF visit days per injury, AT services per injury, and AT services per ATF visit day. Rates for service type used were expressed as the total count over reported athlete-exposures. RESULTS: The ATs documented 1191 services. Affluent and average SES school communities provided more contact frequencies for injury-related care than did disadvantaged school communities, particularly in AT services per injury (7.10 ± 13.08 versus average: 9.30 ± 11.60 and affluent: 9.40 ± 12.20; P = .020). Affluent school communities supplied greater rates of services in 5 of the 11 service groups reported. No differences were observed among school SES groups in therapeutic exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reflect that AT practice characteristics may have differed by school SES, but these differences did not appear to result in less medical care. Given the complexity and widespread effects of SES, future investigators should use a complex method to determine SES and aim to identify how SES may affect secondary school student-athletes in ways other than AT practice characteristics.

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Soccer: 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019.

CONTEXT: The National Collegiate Athletic Association held the first women's soccer championship in 1982; sponsorship and participation have greatly increased since. BACKGROUND: Routine examinations of athlete injuries are important for identifying emerging temporal patterns. METHODS: Exposure and injury data collected in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program during the 2014-2015 through 2018-2019 seasons were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios were used to examine differential injury rates. RESULTS: The overall injury rate was 8.33 per 1000 athlete-exposures. Lateral ligament complex tears (ankle sprains) (8.6%), concussions (8.3%), and quadriceps tears (5.0%) were the most commonly reported injuries. Rates of lateral ligament complex tears followed an increasing trajectory during the study period, whereas quadriceps tear rates fluctuated during the early years, and concussion rates decreased then increased. SUMMARY: The findings of this study were mostly consistent with existing evidence; notable temporal patterns were observed with regard to lateral ligament complex tears and concussions.

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Soccer: 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019.

CONTEXT: The National Collegiate Athletic Association has sponsored men's soccer programs since 1959, and the popularity of the sport has grown over time. BACKGROUND: Routine examinations of athlete injuries are important for identifying emerging temporal patterns. METHODS: Exposure and injury data collected in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program from 2014-2015 through 2018-2019 were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios were used to examine differential injury rates. RESULTS: The overall injury rate was 8.51 per 1000 athlete exposures. Lateral ligament complex tears (ankle sprains) (9.2%), hamstring tears (7.0%), and concussions (5.2%) were the most commonly reported injuries. Rates of lateral ligament complex tears remained stable from 2014-2015 through 2018-2019, whereas hamstring tear rates decreased and concussion rates increased. SUMMARY: The findings of this study were in line with the existing epidemiological evidence, although notable temporal patterns were observed. Incidence trajectories of commonly observed injuries warrant particular attention in the future.

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Cross-Country: 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019.

CONTEXT: Women's cross-country is a thriving sport at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) level with over 1000 sponsored programs association-wide. BACKGROUND: Routine examinations of women's cross-country injuries are important for identifying emerging time trends in injury incidence and outcomes. METHODS: Exposure and injury data collected in the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program from 2014-2015 through 2018-2019 were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios were used to examine differential injury rates. RESULTS: The overall injury rate was 3.96 per 1000 athlete-exposures. Most reported injuries were inflammatory conditions (33.6%), strains (17.7%), and fractures (9.1%). The most commonly reported injuries were medial tibial stress syndrome (10.0%) and lateral ligament complex tears (ankle sprains; 4.2%). SUMMARY: Findings of this study were not entirely consistent with existing evidence. Future studies are needed to examine the nature of inflammatory conditions and fractures in this population, as well as temporal patterns in commonly reported injuries.

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Cross-Country: 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019.

CONTEXT: The National Collegiate Athletic Association has sponsored men's cross-country programs since 1938, and the sport has grown greatly in scope since then. BACKGROUND: Routine examinations of men's cross-country injuries are important for identifying emerging temporal patterns. METHODS: Exposure and injury data collected in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program during 2014-2015 through 2018-2019 were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios were used to examine differential injury rates. RESULTS: The overall injury rate was 4.01 per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs). Most reported injuries were inflammatory conditions (30.2%), strains (18.7%), and sprains (11.5%); rates of inflammatory conditions were highest in preseason. The most commonly reported injuries were lateral ligament complex tears (ankle sprains; 8.2%). SUMMARY: Findings of this study were not entirely consistent with existing evidence; continued monitoring of competition injury rates and rates of commonly reported injuries is needed beyond 2018-2019.

Methods of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program, 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019.

BACKGROUND: Since 1982, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has collaborated with athletic trainers (ATs) to create the largest ongoing collegiate sports injury database in the world. This report provides an operational update of the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program (NCAA ISP) during the academic years 2014-2015 through 2018-2019. SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM STRUCTURE: The NCAA ISP used a convenience sampling technique via a rolling recruitment model. The ATs at contributing institutions voluntarily submitted data into their respective electronic medical record systems; common data elements were pushed to and maintained by the Datalys Center. The ATs provided information about all team-related activities, even if no injury occurred during that activity, as well as detailed reports on each injury, including condition and circumstances. SUMMARY: The NCAA ISP has a long-standing role in supplying NCAA stakeholders with crucial injury surveillance data, playing a critical part in safeguarding student-athletes participating in collegiate sports.

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Tennis: 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019.

CONTEXT: The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has sponsored men's tennis programs since 1982. The popularity of tennis has grown, as has sponsorship of men's tennis within NCAA institutions. BACKGROUND: Continued monitoring of athletic injuries is important for identifying emerging temporal patterns. METHODS: Exposure and injury data collected in the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program during 2014-2015 through 2018-2019 were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios were used to examine differential injury rates. RESULTS: The overall injury rate was 4.41 per 1000 athlete-exposures. Lateral ligament complex tears of the ankle (8.5%) were the most reported injury. Trunk (15.1%) and shoulder (13.2%) injuries accounted for the largest proportions of all injuries. Noncontact and overuse were the most common mechanisms of injury among all reported injuries, together accounting for 69.4% of all injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study differed slightly from previous studies, most notably in specific injuries reported. Continued monitoring of specific injury incidence as well as greater participation in injury surveillance is needed to inform the development of nuanced injury prevention strategies for this population.

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Tennis: 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019.

CONTEXT: The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has sponsored women's tennis programs since 1966. Women's tennis has risen in global prominence and popularity within the NCAA. BACKGROUND: Continued surveillance of athletic injuries in the NCAA is critical for identifying emerging injury trends and assessing injury prevention strategies. METHODS: Exposure and injury data collected in the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program from 2014-2015 through 2018-2019 were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios were used to examine differential injury rates. RESULTS: The overall injury rate was 4.16 per 1000 athlete exposures. Injury to the shoulder, foot, and trunk were the most prevalent throughout the study period. Approximately 30% of all injury diagnoses were related to inflammatory conditions. Also, 32.1% of all injuries were time-loss injuries, and 45.0% of all injuries were non-time-loss injuries. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study differed slightly from those of previous investigations, most notably with regard to injury rate by season segment and commonly injured body parts. Future surveillance efforts should attempt to capture the nuances of tennis competitions.

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Baseball: 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019.

CONTEXT: The National Collegiate Athletic Association has supported men's baseball championships since 1947. Since its inception, the number of participating teams and athletes has considerably expanded. BACKGROUND: Frequently conducting injury surveillance of collegiate baseball athletes is essential for identifying developing temporal patterns. METHODS: Exposure and injury data collected in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program during 2014-2015 through 2018-2019 were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics; injury rate ratios were used to examine differential injury rates. RESULTS: The overall injury rate was 3.16 per 1000 athlete-exposures. The preseason injury rate was significantly higher than the regular season injury rate. The most commonly injured body parts were shoulder (16.1%), arm or elbow (16%), and hand or wrist (13.9%). The most reported specific injury was hamstring tear (7.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study aligned with previous studies-most injuries were due to noncontact and overuse mechanisms, less than one-half of injuries were related to upper extremity body parts, and one-third of all injuries were reported among pitchers.

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Volleyball: 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019.

CONTEXT: Women's volleyball is a globally popular sport with widespread participation at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) level. BACKGROUND: Routine examinations of NCAA women's volleyball injuries are important for recognizing emerging injury-related patterns in this population. METHODS: Exposure and injury data collected in the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program during the 2014-2015 through 2018-2019 athletic years were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios were used to examine differences in injury rates. RESULTS: The overall injury rate was 6.73 per 1000 athlete-exposures. Knee (14.6%) and ankle (13.8%) injuries accounted for the largest proportion of all reported injuries, and most injuries were attributed to overuse (26.1%) or noncontact (22.7%) mechanisms. Lateral ankle ligament complex tears (11.1%) and concussions (7.3%) were the most commonly reported specific injury. SUMMARY: Results indicate an increasing burden of practice-related injuries and the need to further examine overuse injuries. Lower-extremity injury prevention strategies and mechanisms of concussion also warrant further attention.

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Lacrosse: 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019.

CONTEXT: Lacrosse is an increasingly popular sport; the number of teams participating in collegiate women's lacrosse has increased by 21.4% in the past 5 years. BACKGROUND: The growth of National Collegiate Athletic Association women's lacrosse, coupled with the ongoing discussions surrounding protective equipment, necessitates further epidemiologic studies in this population. METHODS: Exposure and injury data collected in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program during 2014-2015 through 2018-2019 were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios with 95% CIs were used to examine differential injury rates. RESULTS: The overall injury rate was 4.99 per 1000 athlete exposures. Less than 30% of injuries were time-loss injuries; injuries were most commonly attributed to noncontact (26.6%) and overuse (25.2%) mechanisms. The most commonly reported specific injuries were lateral ligament complex tears (ankle sprains; 9.1%), concussions (7.2%), and hamstring tears (3.8%). SUMMARY: Findings from this study were consistent with the existing epidemiologic evidence in previous studies. Injury incidence in practices, in preseason, and as a result of player contact warrant further attention in this population.

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Basketball: 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019.

CONTEXT: Frequent inspection of sports-related injury epidemiology among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) women's basketball student-athletes is valuable for identifying injury-related patterns. BACKGROUND: Emerging patterns in epidemiology of NCAA women's basketball injuries are unknown though general sports medicine practices, and playing rules and regulations have evolved in recent years. METHODS: Athlete exposures (AEs) and injury incidence data were reported to the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program between 2014-2015 and 2018-2019. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to examine injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios (IRRs) were used to assess injury rate differences. RESULTS: Practice and competition injury rates were 5.93 and 10.35 per 1000 AEs, respectively. Preseason injury rates were higher than regular (IRR = 1.41; 95% CI = 1.31, 1.53) and postseason (IRR = 3.12; 95% CI = 2.39, 4.07). Ankle sprains (14.3%), concussions (7.5%), and anterior cruciate ligament tears (2.5%) were the most commonly reported injuries. SUMMARY: Higher rates of practice and competition injuries, as well as ankle sprains, were observed relative to previous reports; continuous monitoring is necessary to identify potential contributing factors to these trends.

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Swimming and Diving: 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019.

CONTEXT: The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has sponsored men's swimming and diving since 1937. BACKGROUND: Routine examinations of men's swimming and diving injuries are important for identifying emerging injury-related patterns. METHODS: Exposure and injury data collected in the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program during the 2014-2015 through 2018-2019 academic years were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios were used to examine differences in injury rates. RESULTS: The overall injury rate was 1.56 per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs) for swimmers and 1.52 per 1000 AEs for divers. Shoulder (27.0%) injuries accounted for the largest proportion of all swimming injuries, and most injuries were attributed to overuse mechanisms (42.6%). Shoulder (23.3%) and trunk (23.3%) injuries accounted for the largest proportion of all diving injuries, and most injuries resulted from surface contact (32.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Findings were consistent with existing literature on swimming and diving. The need for continued surveillance, coupled with more robust participation by swimming and diving programs was also highlighted.

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Track and Field: 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019.

CONTEXT: Women's track and field events at the National Collegiate Athletic Association level have grown in popularity in recent years, and track and field athletes are vulnerable to a broad range of potential injuries. BACKGROUND: Routine examination of track and field injuries is important for identifying emerging patterns in injury incidence. METHODS: Exposure and injury data collected in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program during the 2014-2015 to 2018-2019 academic years were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios were used to examine differential injury rates. RESULTS: The overall injury rate was 2.20 per 1000 athlete exposures; the competition injury rate was higher than the practice injury rate (injury rate ratio = 1.73; 95% confidence interval = 1.51, 1.97). Hamstring tears (8.9%), medial tibial stress syndrome (5.4%), and lateral ligament complex tears (4.2%) were the most reported injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Given the results of this study, further attention may be directed toward factors associated with noncontact injury risk in the competitions. The changing injury rates of most reported injuries also warrant monitoring post 2018-2019.

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Track and Field: 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019.

CONTEXT: College athletes have been competing in championship track and field events since 1921; the numbers of competing teams and participating athletes have expanded considerably. BACKGROUND: Monitoring injuries of men's track and field athletes using surveillance systems is critical in identifying emerging injury-related patterns. METHODS: Exposure and injury data collected in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program during the 2014-2015 through 2018-2019 academic years were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics; injury rate ratios were used to examine differential injury rates. RESULTS: Overall, men's track and field athletes were injured at a rate of 2.37 per 1000 athlete-exposures; injuries occurred at a higher rate during competition compared with practice. Most injuries were to the thigh (26.2%), lower leg (17.3%), or knee (10.7%) and were caused by noncontact (37.2%) or overuse (31.5%) mechanisms. The most reported injury was hamstring tear (14.9%). SUMMARY: The etiologies of thigh and lower-leg injuries warrant further attention in this population. Future researchers should also separately examine injury incidence during indoor and outdoor track and field seasons.

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Ice Hockey: 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019.

CONTEXT: The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has sponsored women's ice hockey championships since 2001, and sponsorship has grown over time. BACKGROUND: Routine examinations of injuries sustained by athletes are important for identifying and understanding patterns that can be used to inform sport safety practices. METHODS: Exposure and injury data collected in the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program from 2014-2015 through 2018-2019 were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios were used to examine differential injury rates. RESULTS: The overall injury rate was 5.89 per 1000 athlete-exposures; preseason injury incidence rose sharply during 2016-2017 through 2018-2019. Head/face injuries (15.2%), knee injuries (13.2%), and shoulder injuries (12.9%) were the most commonly injured body parts, and injuries were most often classified as contusions (18.9%), strains (18.7%), and sprains (15.5%). Concussion (11.9%) was the most commonly reported specific injury, and concussion rates notably increased during 2017-2018 through 2018-2019. SUMMARY: Study findings were generally consistent with the existing epidemiological evidence. Injury incidence in preseason and the etiology of strains warrant further attention in this population.

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Ice Hockey: 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019.

CONTEXT: The National Collegiate Athletic Association has supported men's ice hockey, a distinct sport that mandates high-velocity gamesmanship, since 1974. BACKGROUND: Injury surveillance systems are designed to identify evolving injury trends and their temporal qualities. Continual monitoring of collegiate men's ice hockey athletes remains essential. METHODS: Exposure and injury data collected in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program from 2014-2015 through 2018-2019 were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios (IRR) were used to examine differential injury rates. RESULTS: The overall injury rate was 7.65 per 1000 athlete-exposures. Injuries from competition occurred at a rate nearly 7 times that from practice injuries (IRR = 6.54, 95% CI = 6.08, 7.04). The most common specific injury diagnoses were concussions (9.6%), acromioclavicular sprains (7.3%), and medial collateral ligament tears (3.7%). SUMMARY: Injury rates by event type and season segment were higher than previously reported. Contusions accounted for nearly a quarter of all injuries, and acromioclavicular sprain rates increased notably across the study period.