Citation

Nation AD, Nelson NG, Yard EE, Comstock RD, McKenzie LB. Clin. Pediatr. 2011; 50(3): 200-207.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0009922810388511

PMID

21127078

Abstract

American football is one of the most popular youth sports in the United States despite the high rate of injuries. Previously published studies have investigated football-related injuries that occurred in organized play but have excluded those that occurred during unorganized play. Through use of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database, cases of football-related injuries were identified for analysis. Sample weights were used to calculate national estimates. An estimated 5 252 721 children and adolescents 6 to 17 years old were treated in US emergency departments for football-related injuries. The annual number of cases increased by 26.5% over the 18-year study period. The 12- to 17-year-old age group accounted for 77.8% of all injuries and had nearly twice the odds of sustaining a concussion. The findings suggest the need for increased prevention efforts to lower the risk of football-related injury in children and adolescents.

Language: en