These researchers analyzed injury and treatment patterns among middle school-aged athletes receiving care from athletic trainers who were members of the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network (AT-PBRN). The study identified football, basketball, and soccer as the sports with the highest frequency of injuries, with concussions and ankle sprains/strains being the most common diagnoses. The most commonly used treatments included hot/cold packs, therapeutic exercise, and athletic trainer evaluation.
A total of 1,011 sports-related injuries were documented during the study period for middle school-aged athletes (age in years: 10=45, 11=135, 12=273, 13=558; sex: male=503, female=506, declined to answer=2). Football (17.7%, n=179), basketball (17.6%, n=178), and soccer (14.9%, n=151) reported the highest number of injuries. Ankle (17.1%, n=173), knee (16.5%, n=167), and head (14.1%, n=143) were the most common injury locations. Concussion (ICD-10=S06.0X0XA; 12.3%, n=124), ankle strain/sprain (ICD-10=S93.409A; 9.4%, n=95), and sprain/strain of the thigh/hip/groin (ICD-10=S73.109A; 7.4%, n=75) were the most reported diagnoses.
A total of 3,870 treatments were recorded during the study period, with hot/cold packs (CPT=97010; 17.2%, n=665), therapeutic exercise (CPT=97110; 15.4%, n=595), athletic trainer re-evaluation (CPT=97006; 12.9%, n=501), athletic trainer evaluation (CPT=97005; 11.8%, n=456), and manual therapy (CPT=97140; 9.3%, n=358) being the most recorded services. Patients attended a median of 2 visits (IQR=1-4) with a median 2 procedures per visit (IQR=1-2).
These findings offer important insights for athletic trainers and parents/guardians in managing the health of middle school-aged athletes.
Source: McCarthy M, Sigmon T, Marshall AN, Lam KC, Koldenhoven RM. Injury and Treatment Characteristics of Middle School-Aged Patients Under the Care of Athletic Trainers From 2010-2022: A Report From the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network. J Athl Train. 2023;58(6S):72.
