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High incidence of shoulder injuries found among male lacrosse players
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Recently published results showed shoulder injuries were common in men’s lacrosse, with a high incidence of acromioclavicular injuries, as well as labral and instability injuries.
Researchers collected all athlete exposures and shoulder injuries in athletes who played intercollegiate men’s lacrosse and were reported from 2004 to 2005 through 2008 to 2009 to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System. Researchers documented the type of injury and calculated the injury incidence per 1,000 athlete exposures, as well as recorded event type, injury mechanism, specific injury, outcome and time lost.
During the collection period, researchers found a total of 124 observed injuries. Results showed an estimated 1,707 shoulder injuries when observed injuries were weighted to an estimated 2,873,973 athlete exposures, yielding an incidence of 0.59 per 1,000 athlete exposures. Researchers noted an incidence of shoulder injuries of 0.35 per 1,000 athlete exposures during practice vs. an incidence of 1.89 per 1,000 athlete exposures during competition.
Investigators found 50% of all shoulder injuries were acromioclavicular joint injuries, while 21.8% were labral injuries and those associated with anterior/posterior instability events. Overall, 57% of shoulder injuries occurred by player-player contact and 25% occurred due to contact with the playing surface. Researchers noted an average time loss of 11 days, with a time loss of 10 days or more found in 41.9% of all shoulder injuries. Among athletes who experienced clavicle fractures and posterior shoulder dislocation, results showed none returned to play during the same season. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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