Citation

Emery CA. Clin. J. Sport. Med. 2003; 13(4): 256-268.

Affiliation

Sport Medicine Centre, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12855930

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review

of the literature is to identify risk factors and potential prevention

strategies that may modify risk factors for injury in child and adolescent

sport. DATA SOURCES: Seven electronic databases were searched to identify

potentially relevant articles. A combination of Medical Subject Headings and

text words were used (athletic injuries, sports injury, risk factors,

adolescent, and child). STUDY SELECTION: This review is based on epidemiological

evidence in which the data are original, an exposure and outcome are objectively

measured, and an attempt is made to create a comparison group. Forty-five

studies were selected for this review. DATA EXTRACTION: The data summarized

include study design, study population, exposures, outcomes, and results.

Estimates of odds ratios or relative risks were calculated where study data were

adequate to do so. The quality of evidence is based on internal validity,

external validity, and causal association. DATA SYNTHESIS: There is some

evidence that potentially modifiable risk factors including poor endurance, lack

of preseason training, and some psychosocial factors are important risk factors

for injury in child and adolescent sport. Concerns with study design, internal

validity, and generalizability persist. The evidence is consistent, however,

with more convincing evidence from adult population studies. The evidence for

nonmodifiable risk factors for injury in adolescent sport (ie, age, sex,

previous injury) is consistent among studies. CONCLUSIONS: Sport participation

and injury rates in child and adolescent sport are high. This review will assist

in targeting the relevant groups and designing future research examining risk

factors and prevention strategies in child and adolescent sport. Future clinical

trials addressing modifiable risk factors to reduce the incidence of sports

injury in this population are necessary.