Prevalence of sports injuries and related causes in male students aged ۷ to ۱۵ years old in Yazd, Iran-۲۰۲۲

Background: It is essential to have a better understanding of the reasons behind injuries in athletes, particularly adolescent athletes who have unique physical, motor, and psychological traits. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of sports injuries and their related causes among male student-athletes participating in the ۳۰th male-student sports festival held across the country. Methods: This study was descriptive-cross sectional. The study population included ۴۲۵ male athlete students (mean age ۱۲.۱±۷.۸۲, range ۷-۱۵ years) with a sports history of ۳.۳±۰.۱۸ years, who were selected randomly from ۱۹۲۷ male athlete students participating in the ۳۰th National Sports Festival for male students (Yazd- September ۲۰۲۲) in the four sports fields of Skipping rope, track and field, swimming, and gymnastics. To collect injury information, the Fuller and colleagues (۲۰۰۶) injury report form was used. Results: The results showed that ۵۴% of athletes in the track and field, ۲۳.۳۰% in Skipping rope, ۱۳.۵% in gymnastics, and ۹.۲% in swimming had a history of sports injury. The severity of injuries in different sports fields was ۸۳.۲% mild, ۱۰.۵% moderate, and ۶.۳% severe. The types of injuries were ۵۴% muscular tendon, ۳.۳۲% bone joint, and ۷.۱۳% skin. The injured body parts were ۴۴.۵% lower limbs, ۳۶.۳% upper limbs, and ۱۹.۲% trunk and spine. ۳۶% of injuries were due to incorrect exercise movements, ۳۰% due to inadequate warm-up, ۲۰% due to insufficient physical preparation, and ۱۴% due to inappropriate environmental conditions. Conclusion: The current results indicate that sports injuries in Iran occur more often due to incorrect exercise movements and inadequate warm-up. This highlights the need for specialized practical training for teachers and coaches.

Keywords:

Athlete students , sports injuries , Sports festival