Khera Jasmeet, Furtado Nikhil, Guturu Sai Geetika, Lin Jacob, Dilisio Matthew
Sports Medicine, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, USA.
Internal Medicine, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, USA.
Cureus. 2024 Dec 20;16(12):e76096. doi: 10.7759/cureus.76096. eCollection 2024 Dec.
Purpose Wrestling injuries in female athletes is an understudied topic. The aim of this study is to characterize the injuries that occur in female wrestlers aged five to 18 who presented to United States (US) emergency departments (ED) from 2014-2023 and compare patterns between youth and adolescent wrestlers. Method This was a retrospective comparative study including female patients aged five to 18 years of age presenting to the ED due to an injury related to their participation in the sport of wrestling. Data was extracted from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) from 2014 to 2023. Information extracted included patient demographics, injury location, disposition, diagnosis as well as a narrative for each patient. Injury distribution for youth (five to 11) and adolescents (12-18) was evaluated using chi-squared. Results An estimated 28,824 female wrestlers (841 NEISS cases) presented to US EDs during the study period. The most frequently injured body parts were the head (16.5%), shoulder (14.0%), knee (11.1%), and elbow (10.7%). Strains/sprains were the most common injuries in both youth (27.9%) and adolescents (30.3%). Fractures were significantly more common among youth wrestlers (23.1%) compared to adolescents (13.6%, p < 0.05). The distribution of injured body parts was also significantly different between groups (p < 0.05). In youth wrestlers, the most common injury sites were the head (11.5%, 95% CI 20.0-57.7%), wrist (10.6%, 95% CI 9.85-47.4%), and elbow (9.6%, 95% CI 16.3-56.6%). For adolescents, the head (17.2%, 95% CI 24.9-34.9%), shoulder (14.9%, 95% CI 31.4-43.5%), and knee (11.7%, 95% CI 27.7-41.0%) were most frequently injured. Overall, more than 60% of injuries occurred above the waist in both groups. Conclusion Adolescent female wrestlers experienced more injuries compared to youth wrestlers, with most injuries occurring above the waist. Factors such as increased mat time, hormonal changes, and higher practice intensity may contribute to this disparity. Injury prevention strategies, including adequate mat spacing and rule enforcement during practices as well as upper body strength training, are recommended. Further research is needed to identify mechanisms and specific techniques linked to higher injury risks to enhance safety in female wrestling.
目的 女性运动员的摔跤损伤是一个研究较少的话题。本研究的目的是描述2014年至2023年期间前往美国急诊科(ED)的5至18岁女性摔跤运动员所受的损伤,并比较青少年摔跤运动员之间的损伤模式。方法 这是一项回顾性比较研究,纳入了因参与摔跤运动受伤而前往急诊科的5至18岁女性患者。数据从2014年至2023年的国家电子伤害监测系统(NEISS)中提取。提取的信息包括患者人口统计学、损伤部位、处置方式、诊断以及每位患者的描述。使用卡方检验评估青少年(5至11岁)和青少年(12至18岁)的损伤分布。结果 在研究期间,估计有28,824名女性摔跤运动员(841例NEISS病例)前往美国急诊科就诊。最常受伤的身体部位是头部(16.5%)、肩部(14.0%)、膝盖(11.1%)和肘部(10.7%)。拉伤/扭伤是青少年(27.9%)和青少年(30.3%)中最常见的损伤。与青少年(13.6%,p < 0.05)相比,青少年摔跤运动员骨折更为常见(23.1%)。两组之间受伤身体部位的分布也有显著差异(p < 0.05)。在青少年摔跤运动员中,最常见的受伤部位是头部(11.5%,95% CI 20.0 - 57.7%)、手腕(10.6%,95% CI 9.85 - 47.4%)和肘部(9.6%,95% CI 16.3 - 56.6%)。对于青少年,头部(17.2%,95% CI 24.9 - 34.9%)、肩部(14.9%,95% CI 31.4 - 43.5%)和膝盖(11.7%,95% CI 27.7 - 41.0%)是最常受伤的部位。总体而言,两组中超过60%的损伤发生在腰部以上。结论 与青少年摔跤运动员相比,青少年女性摔跤运动员受伤更多,大多数损伤发生在腰部以上。垫子使用时间增加、激素变化和更高的训练强度等因素可能导致这种差异。建议采取预防损伤策略,包括在训练期间提供足够的垫子空间和执行规则以及进行上身力量训练。需要进一步研究以确定与更高损伤风险相关的机制和特定技术,以提高女子摔跤的安全性。