Information about project titled 'Growth, maturation and injuries in academy athletics'
Growth, maturation and injuries in academy athletics
| Details about the project - category | Details about the project - value |
|---|---|
| Project status: | Published |
| Project manager: | Eirik Halvorsen Wik |
| Supervisor(s): | Roald Bahr, Amanda Johnson |
| Coworker(s): | Daniel Martinez-Silvan, Abdulaziz Farooq, Marco Cardinale |
Description
Background: Injuries are common in athletics, but few studies have examined injury risk factors. While growth and maturation are considered risk factors for young athletes, the current body of research is inconclusive.
Aims: To examine growth rate, maturity status and maturity tempo as risk factors for injury in youth academy athletics athletes.
Methods: Anthropometric (stature, body mass and sitting height), skeletal maturity (skeletal age), training and injury data were collected prospectively over four seasons (117 athlete-seasons).
Implications: Greater changes in height, leg length and skeletal age over a season were associated with increased risk of bone and growth plate injuries. Younger skeletal age at the start of a season was associated with a greater risk of sustaining growth plate injuries. These variables can be monitored by coaches and practitioners to identify potentially vulnerable athletes and subsequently reduce the impact of injuries.