A prospective cohort study on physical activity and sports related injuries in 10-12 year old children

OBJECTIVES: To describe the incidence and severity of injuries resulting from physical education, sports, and leisure time physical activity (PA) in 10-12 year old children. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study SETTING: Primary schools PARTICIPANTS: 995 children aged 10-12y. INTERVENTIONS: Individual weekly exposure was estimated from baseline and follow-up questionnaires. Exposure to physical education (PE) classes was equal in all schools. An injury was recorded if it occurred during either PE class, leisure time PA, or sports, and caused the child to at least stop the current activity. Injuries were reported within one week of injury onset. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Injury incidence density RESULTS: During the school-year a total of 119 injuries were reported by 104 children, resulting in an overall injury incidence density (ID) of 0.48 per 1,000 hours of exposure (95%CI: 0.38-0.57). Injury ID was lowest for leisure time PA, followed by PE and sports respectively. Of all injuries, 40% required medical treatment and 14% resulted in one or more days of absence from regular school activities. In general for girls a higher injury ID was reported than for boys, mainly caused by a twofold higher risk during leisure time PA. CONCLUSIONS: Next to specific areas of preventive interest it was found that in this specific age group, girls require special attention as they seem to be at higher injury risk than boys