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Study links overuse injuries in young athletes with socioeconomic status
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Serious overuse injuries are more common in young athletes from families with private insurance than those on Medicaid, according to recently presented data from researchers at Loyola University Medical Center.
The study, which was presented at the International Olympic Committee World Conference on Prevention of Injury & Illness in Sport in Monaco, showed 13% of privately insured young athletes sustained such injuries compared to 8% of athletes on public insurance. The research also revealed that privately insured young athletes were nearly twice as likely as those on Medicaid to be highly specialized in one sport (30% vs. 18%, respectively).
Lara Dugas
“Young athletes with [high specialization in a single sport also] appear to be at greater risk for serious overuse injuries than those who have fewer financial resources,” Lara Dugas, PhD, MPH, a co-investigator of the study, stated in a press release from Loyola University Health System.
In their ongoing study, Dugas and colleagues have enrolled 1,121 athletes (aged 7 years to 18 years) who were seen at primary care and sports medicine clinics at Loyola University Health System and the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Athletes completed surveys reporting training volumes, age of engagement in competitive sports, degree of specialization and other demographic factors. Median income for the athletes’ families was approximately $70,000, according to the release. Overall, 19% of participants were on public aid and approximately 11% were from low-income areas.
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Disclosure: Jayanthi received a grant from the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, honoraria and travel/expenses from United States Tennis Association (Player Development) for lectures and expenses and travel/expenses for serving on the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Board of Directors. Patrick received a grant from the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. LaBella received a grant from the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, and received honoraria for lectures given at AAP NCE, received royalties for published work, and received AAP COSMF executive committee travel expenses.