Descriptive epidemiology of collegiate men's lacrosse injuries: National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System, 1988-1989 through 2003-2004

Abstract

Objective: To review 16 years of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) injury surveillance data for men's lacrosse and identify potential areas for injury prevention initiatives.

Background: During the sample period, the number of sponsoring institutions and the number of participants in men's college lacrosse grew significantly. Overall, an average of 18% of NCAA institutions participated in the annual NCAA Injury Surveillance System data collection for this sport.

Main results: Over the sample period, athletes were almost 4 times more likely to sustain injuries in games than in practices (12.58 versus 3.24 injuries per 1000 athlete-exposures [A-Es], rate ratio = 3.9, 95% confidence interval = 3.7, 4.1). Approximately half of all game (48.1%) and practice (58.7%) injuries were to the lower extremity, followed by the upper extremity (26.2% in games, 16.9% in practices), and the head and neck (11.7% in games, 6.2% in practices). In games and practices, the most common injuries were ankle ligament sprains (11.3% and 16.4%, respectively). The disparity among preseason, regular-season, and postseason injuries may be due to athlete acclimatization to the rigors of the sport throughout the season. Changes in helmet design may account for the rise in the concussion rate since the 1995-1996 season.

Recommendations: We recommend research into the mechanism of head injuries and the implications of design changes to protective helmets, as well as further investigation of the best designs for shoulder and chest protection.

Figure 1. Injury rates and 95% confidence intervals per 1000 athlete-exposures by games, practices, and academic years, men's lacrosse, 1988–1989 through 2003–2004 (n = 1921 game injuries and 2924 practice injuries). Game time trend P = .80. Average annual change in game injury rate = −0.3%, 95% confidence interval = −1.7, 2.3. Practice time trend P = .90. Average annual change in practice injury rate = −0.1%, 95% confidence interval = −1.2, 1.4

Figure 2. Game and practice injury mechanisms, all injuries, men's lacrosse, 1988–1989 through 2003–2004 (n = 1921 game injuries and 2924 practice injuries). “Other contact” refers to contact with items such as balls, sticks, or the ground. Injury mechanism was unavailable for 1% of game injuries and 3% of practice injuries

Figure 3. Sport-specific game injury mechanisms, men's lacrosse, 1988–1989 through 2003–2004 (n = 1921)

Figure 4. Location at time of game injury, men's lacrosse, 1996– 1997 through 2003–2004 (n = 1079). The goal area/circle is exclusive of the area within the 25-yd line on a regulation-size field

Figure 5. Game concussion injury mechanisms, men's lacrosse, 1988–1989 through 2003–2004 (n = 165)