Citation

Christiansen C, Andersen LB, Ersbøll AK, Jespersen E, Franz C, Wedderkopp N. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2014; 46(4): 745-752.

Affiliation

1 Centre of Research in Childhood Health, Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; 2Department of Sports Medicine, The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway; 3National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark 4 Sport Medicine Clinic, Orthopedic Department, Hospital of Lillebaelt, Odense, Denmark; 5Institute of Regional Health Services Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1249/MSS.0000000000000152

PMID

24121246

Abstract

PURPOSE: (1) Examine the influence of extra physical education (EPE) on the number of musculoskeletal injuries in public schools accounting for organized sports participation (OSP) outside school. (2) Examine the major injury subgroup: growth-related overuse (GRO) through the overuse-related injury group.

METHODS: A longitudinal controlled school-based study among Danish public schools. At baseline 1216 children participated aged 6.2-12.4 years. Six schools (701 children) with EPE and four control schools (515 children) were followed with weekly-automated mobile phone text messages for information on musculoskeletal problems and OSP. Healthcare personnel diagnosed the children according to WHO's ICD-10. Data were analyzed using a two-part model; zero-inflated negative binomial regression.

RESULTS: School-type had no influence on odds of sustaining an injury or not but increased the probability of sustaining a higher injury count for children with injuries; total injuries and overuse by a factor 1.29 (95% CI 1.07-1.56 & 1.06-1.55), and GRO 1.38 (1.02-1.80). Weekly mean OSP decreased odds of belonging to the group of children with no injuries by a factor 0.29 (0.14-0.58), 0.26 (0.14-0.48) and 0.17 (0.06-0.52) - total, overuse and GRO respectively. OSP also increased the probability of sustaining a higher injury count for the children with injuries by a factor 1.11 (1.02-1.22), 1.10 (1.00-1.22), and 1.14 (1.00-1.30).

CONCLUSIONS: Children enrolled in EPE-schools with high OSP have the highest odds of injury and a high probability of sustaining a higher injury count compared to their peers at schools with normal PE. Special attention should be assigned these children during the compulsory PE.

Language: en