Aims: Sport specialisation is an actual trend in youth athletes, but it can increase injury risk. The aim was to determine the possible correlation between sports specialisation and injury risk in various sports using a biopsychosocial approach. Methods: 169 sport-specialised athletes [(38 female, 131 male); (11.2 ± 2.7 years); (56.28 ± 15.72 kg); (161.3 ± 15.52cm)] completed a self-reported questionnaire regarding sociodemographic (age, gender, educational level), physical-attitudinal, injury and psychological-attitudinal aspects. A univariate and correlate analyses were used to analyse the data. Results: Out of 169 enrolled athletes, 53% were single-sport specialised (reported participation in one sport and trained > 8 months/year). In team sports (100%, OR = 0.75; p =.022), a high risk of having to remain at rest for up to 1 month because of overuse was observed. Males who suffered direct trauma (70%; OR = 1.03; p =.006) in the team group (95%, OR = 0.09; p =.008) were more exposed to that type of injury, and also the type of specialisation figured significantly (p =.047). In addition, interoceptive awareness correlates with injury (95%, 1.04, p = 0.01). Conclusions: Athletes in team sports are more specialised, have higher training volumes and greater rates of injuries correlated with interoceptive awareness than in individual sports.
SPECIALISATION AND INJURY RISK IN DIFFERENT YOUTH SPORTS: A BIO-EMOTIONAL EDUCATIONAL APPROACH
Iona T.;Raimo S.;Masala D.;Ammendolia A.;Latorre G.
2021-01-01
Abstract
Aims: Sport specialisation is an actual trend in youth athletes, but it can increase injury risk. The aim was to determine the possible correlation between sports specialisation and injury risk in various sports using a biopsychosocial approach. Methods: 169 sport-specialised athletes [(38 female, 131 male); (11.2 ± 2.7 years); (56.28 ± 15.72 kg); (161.3 ± 15.52cm)] completed a self-reported questionnaire regarding sociodemographic (age, gender, educational level), physical-attitudinal, injury and psychological-attitudinal aspects. A univariate and correlate analyses were used to analyse the data. Results: Out of 169 enrolled athletes, 53% were single-sport specialised (reported participation in one sport and trained > 8 months/year). In team sports (100%, OR = 0.75; p =.022), a high risk of having to remain at rest for up to 1 month because of overuse was observed. Males who suffered direct trauma (70%; OR = 1.03; p =.006) in the team group (95%, OR = 0.09; p =.008) were more exposed to that type of injury, and also the type of specialisation figured significantly (p =.047). In addition, interoceptive awareness correlates with injury (95%, 1.04, p = 0.01). Conclusions: Athletes in team sports are more specialised, have higher training volumes and greater rates of injuries correlated with interoceptive awareness than in individual sports.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
