Incidence of sports-related musculoskeletal injuries in 683 students during physical education classes in Austrian schools: a one-year prospective observational study
Objective This study aimed to examine the incidence of musculoskeletal time-loss injuries during physical education (PE) classes and their association with non-modifiable risk factors.Methods A 1 year prospective study was conducted in four Austrian schools, involving 683 individuals (290 boys, 393...
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| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/3/e002462.full |
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| author | Jan Wilke Alexandra Unger Anja Ebner Anna Bürger |
| author_facet | Jan Wilke Alexandra Unger Anja Ebner Anna Bürger |
| author_sort | Jan Wilke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective This study aimed to examine the incidence of musculoskeletal time-loss injuries during physical education (PE) classes and their association with non-modifiable risk factors.Methods A 1 year prospective study was conducted in four Austrian schools, involving 683 individuals (290 boys, 393 girls; mean age 13.4±2.0 years). During follow-up, weekly exposure (participation in PE classes) and injury characteristics (eg, type and location) were registered. Injury incidence was calculated per 1000 hours of PE participation, and binary logistic regression was used to examine associations with non-modifiable risk factors (age, sex, weight, Body Mass Index, activity level, membership in a sports club, history of previous injury, maturity status).Results Over 48 162.5 hours of PE, 77 injuries were recorded (1.60 injuries per 1000 hours, 95% CI 1.35 to 1.89). Injuries primarily affected the lower limb (49.35%), with ligament and joint capsule lesions being most common (31.17%). Non-contact injuries made up 57.14% of the total, and acute injuries constituted 94.81% of cases. There was a strong association between maturity offset and injury incidence (p<0.001), demonstrating a higher risk at the pre-peak height velocity (PHV) stage when compared with the at-PHV (OR=0.48, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.94, p=0.03) and the post-PHV stage (OR=0.13, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.24, p<0.001).Conclusion This study highlights a notable incidence of sports-related musculoskeletal time-loss injuries during PE classes, emphasising the need for targeted preventive measures that account for the influence of biological maturation, particularly maturity offset, on injury risk in schoolchildren. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-478b486c514b4fe8a18adb3fd9fa0050 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2055-7647 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-478b486c514b4fe8a18adb3fd9fa00502025-08-20T03:29:02ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine2055-76472025-07-0111310.1136/bmjsem-2025-002462Incidence of sports-related musculoskeletal injuries in 683 students during physical education classes in Austrian schools: a one-year prospective observational studyJan Wilke0Alexandra Unger1Anja Ebner2Anna Bürger3Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, GermanyDepartment of Movement Science, University of Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, AustriaUniversity of Teacher Education Carinthia, Klagenfurt, AustriaUniversity of Teacher Education Carinthia, Klagenfurt, AustriaObjective This study aimed to examine the incidence of musculoskeletal time-loss injuries during physical education (PE) classes and their association with non-modifiable risk factors.Methods A 1 year prospective study was conducted in four Austrian schools, involving 683 individuals (290 boys, 393 girls; mean age 13.4±2.0 years). During follow-up, weekly exposure (participation in PE classes) and injury characteristics (eg, type and location) were registered. Injury incidence was calculated per 1000 hours of PE participation, and binary logistic regression was used to examine associations with non-modifiable risk factors (age, sex, weight, Body Mass Index, activity level, membership in a sports club, history of previous injury, maturity status).Results Over 48 162.5 hours of PE, 77 injuries were recorded (1.60 injuries per 1000 hours, 95% CI 1.35 to 1.89). Injuries primarily affected the lower limb (49.35%), with ligament and joint capsule lesions being most common (31.17%). Non-contact injuries made up 57.14% of the total, and acute injuries constituted 94.81% of cases. There was a strong association between maturity offset and injury incidence (p<0.001), demonstrating a higher risk at the pre-peak height velocity (PHV) stage when compared with the at-PHV (OR=0.48, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.94, p=0.03) and the post-PHV stage (OR=0.13, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.24, p<0.001).Conclusion This study highlights a notable incidence of sports-related musculoskeletal time-loss injuries during PE classes, emphasising the need for targeted preventive measures that account for the influence of biological maturation, particularly maturity offset, on injury risk in schoolchildren.https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/3/e002462.full |
| spellingShingle | Jan Wilke Alexandra Unger Anja Ebner Anna Bürger Incidence of sports-related musculoskeletal injuries in 683 students during physical education classes in Austrian schools: a one-year prospective observational study BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| title | Incidence of sports-related musculoskeletal injuries in 683 students during physical education classes in Austrian schools: a one-year prospective observational study |
| title_full | Incidence of sports-related musculoskeletal injuries in 683 students during physical education classes in Austrian schools: a one-year prospective observational study |
| title_fullStr | Incidence of sports-related musculoskeletal injuries in 683 students during physical education classes in Austrian schools: a one-year prospective observational study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Incidence of sports-related musculoskeletal injuries in 683 students during physical education classes in Austrian schools: a one-year prospective observational study |
| title_short | Incidence of sports-related musculoskeletal injuries in 683 students during physical education classes in Austrian schools: a one-year prospective observational study |
| title_sort | incidence of sports related musculoskeletal injuries in 683 students during physical education classes in austrian schools a one year prospective observational study |
| url | https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/3/e002462.full |
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