The First Decade of Web-Based Sports Injury Surveillance: Descriptive Epidemiology of Injuries in US High School Girls' Volleyball (2005-2006 Through 2013-2014) and National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Volleyball (2004-2005 Through 2013-2014).

CONTEXT

: The advent of Web-based sports injury surveillance via programs such as the High School Reporting Information Online system and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program has aided in the acquisition of girls' and women's volleyball injury data.

OBJECTIVE

: To describe the epidemiology of injuries sustained in high school girls' volleyball in the 2005-2006 through 2013-2014 academic years and collegiate women's volleyball in the 2004-2005 through 2013-2014 academic years using Web-based sports injury surveillance.

DESIGN

: Descriptive epidemiology study.

SETTING

: Online injury surveillance from high school girls' (annual average = 100) and collegiate women's (annual average = 50) volleyball teams.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

: Girls' and women's volleyball players who participated in practices and competitions during the 2005-2006 through 2013-2014 academic years in high school and the 2004-2005 through 2013-2014 academic years in college.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S):: Athletic trainers collected time-loss (≥24 hours) injury and exposure data. Injury rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs), injury rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and injury proportions by body site and diagnosis were calculated.

RESULTS

: The High School Reporting Information Online system documented 1634 time-loss injuries during 1 471 872 AEs; the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program documented 2149 time-loss injuries during 563 845 AEs. The injury rate was higher in college than in high school (3.81/1000 versus 1.11/1000 AEs; IRR = 3.43; 95% CI = 3.22, 3.66), and higher in high schools with ≤1000 students than in those with >1000 students (IRR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.23, 1.49). Injury rates did not vary by collegiate division. The injury rate was higher during competitions than practices for high school (IRR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.12, 1.36) but not for college (IRR = 1.01; 95% CI = 0.92, 1.10). Ankle sprains were common in both the high school and collegiate setting. However, liberos had a high incidence of concussion.

CONCLUSIONS

: Injury rates were higher among collegiate than high school players. However, injury rates differed by event type in high school, unlike college. Concussion injury patterns among liberos varied from those for other positions. These findings highlight the need for injury-prevention interventions specific to setting and position.