HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lysens, R. J. Articles by Renson, L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Lysens, R. J. Articles by Renson, L.

The accident-prone and overuse-prone profiles of the young athlete

Section of Sports Medicine, Institute of Physical Education, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

Michel S. Ostyn, MD

Section of Sports Medicine, Institute of Physical Education, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

Yves Vanden Auweele, PhD

Section of Sports Medicine, Institute of Physical Education, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

Johan Lefevre, PhD

Section of Sports Medicine, Institute of Physical Education, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

Magda Vuylsteke, PhD

Section of Sports Medicine, Institute of Physical Education, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

Luc Renson, MD

Section of Sports Medicine, Institute of Physical Education, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

A 1 year prospective study was done to develop an accident-prone and overuse-prone profile of young ath letes. A group of 185 freshman physical education students (118 males; 67 females) of the same age (18.3 ± 0.5 years) trained under the same conditions and were exposed to similar extrinsic risk factors.

Using a descriptive statistical technique, an analysis of correspondence, the complex interrelation between the criterium variables (acute injuries and overuse inju ries) and the predictor variables (intrinsic risk factors; physical characteristics—antropometric data, physical fitness parameters, flexibility aspects and malalignment of the lower extremities; and psychological factors— 16 personality traits) was estimated for males and females separately.

Although dynamic strength seems to be an important risk factor in acute injuries, sports accidents must be seen in relation to psychological factors. However, the overuse-prone profile is mainly based on physical traits: a combination of muscle weakness, ligamentous laxity, and muscle tightness predisposes to stress injuries. In addition, these overuse effects are intensified by large body weight and length, a high explosive strength, and malalignment of the lower limbs. Nevertheless, it has to be kept in mind that psychosomatic factors play a role in how one experiences these overuse phenomena.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. C. Meyers and B. S. Barnhill Incidence, Causes, and Severity of High School Football Injuries on FieldTurf Versus Natural Grass: A 5-Year Prospective Study Am. J. Sports Med., October 1, 2004; 32(7): 1626 - 1638. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Junge The Influence of Psychological Factors on Sports Injuries: Review of the Literature Am. J. Sports Med., September 1, 2000; 28(90005): S-10 - 15. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. W. Powell and M. Schootman A multivariate risk analysis of selected playing surfaces in the National Football League: 1980 to 1989: An epidemiologic study of knee injuries Am. J. Sports Med., December 1, 1992; 20(6): 686 - 694. [Abstract] [PDF]