Comparison of Injury in College Student-Athletes and College Student Non-Athletes: Analysis of a National Sample

Abstract

<p>The presence of pain during exercise signals potential injury and elicit an avoidance response to decrease pain and minimize extent of injury. For the college student-athlete, pain and injury are often expected. Current sports medicine literature focuses on treatment for acute physical injuries, with the goal of returning the college student-athlete to participation quickly as possible. The literature on pain and injuries in college student nonathletes focuses on social risks associated with pain and injury. This suggests that compared to college student non-athlete, student-athletes may have more injuries; however, research comparing the two groups was minimal. The purpose of this study was to determine the difference in injury between student-athletes and college student non-athletes. The Fall 2008 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment II survey database (N =20773) was analyzed to compare studentathletes (n = 2241) to college student nonathletes (n =18532). Inclusion criteria were fulltime students ages 18-24 to reflect national athletics participation requirements. Chisquared tests determined between-groups differences to five NCHA II items describing back pain, broken bone or sprain, repetitive stress injury, chronic pain, and fracture, sprain, strain, or cut. T-tests determined betweengroups differences to an Injury variate made up of the five items. Compared to college student non-athletes, significantly more studentathletes reported back pain, broken bone or sprain, repetitive stress injury and fracture, sprain, strain, or cut. Compared to college student non-athletes, significantly more student-athletes reported Injury. Despite national policies and considerable university fiscal resources committed to improving safety and reducing injury in college athletes, significantly more athletes than non-athletes reported injuries. Further research is needed to determine short term effects beyond "return to play", e.g. academic impediments related to injury, and long term effects on health, quality of life and career productivity.</p><p>This presentation occurred at the Wright State University Campus-Wide Celebration of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities on April 16, 2010</p>