Short-term absenteeism and health care utilization due to lower extremity injuries among novice runners : A prospective cohort study
- Authors: Smits, Dirk-Wouter , Huisstede, Bionka , Verhagen, Evert , van der Worp, Henk , Kluitenberg, Bas , van Middelkoop, Marienke , Hartgens, Fred , Backx, Frank
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine Vol. 26, no. 6 (2016), p. 502-509
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- Description: Objective: To describe absenteeism and health care utilization (HCU) within 6 weeks after occurrence of running-related injuries (RRIs) among novice runners and to explore differences relating to injury and personal characteristics. Participants: One thousand six hundred ninety-six novice runners (18-65 years) participating in a 6-week running program ("Start-to-Run"). Main Outcome Measures: Injury characteristics were assessed by weekly training logs and personal characteristics by a baseline questionnaire. Data on absenteeism and HCU were collected using questionnaires at 2 and 6 weeks after the RRI occurred. Results: A total of 185 novice runners (11%) reported an RRI during the 6-week program. Of these injured novice runners, 78% reported absence from sports, whereas only 4% reported absence from work. Fifty-one percent of the injured novice runners visited a health care professional, mostly physical therapists (PTs) rather than physicians. Absenteeism was more common among women than men and was also more common with acute RRIs than gradual-onset RRIs. As regards HCU, both the variety of professionals visited and the number of PT visits were higher among runners with muscle-tendon injuries in the ankle/foot region than among those with other RRIs. Conclusions: Among novice runners sustaining an RRI during a 6-week running program, over three quarters reported short-term absence from sports, whereas absence from work was very limited, and over half used professional health care. Both absence and HCU are associated with injury characteristics.
Do neurocognitive SCAT3 baseline test scores differ between footballers (soccer) living with and without diability? A cross-sectional study
- Authors: Weiler, Richard , van Mechelen, Willem , Fuller, Colin , Ahmed, Osman , Verhagen, Evert
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine Vol. 28, no. 1 (2018), p. 43-50
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- Description: OBJECTIVE:: To determine if baseline Sport Concussion Assessment Tool, third Edition (SCAT3) scores differ between athletes with and without disability. DESIGN:: Cross-sectional comparison of preseason baseline SCAT3 scores for a range of England international footballers. SETTING:: Team doctors and physiotherapists supporting England football teams recorded playersʼ SCAT 3 baseline tests from August 1, 2013 to July 31, 2014. PARTICIPANTS:: A convenience sample of 249 England footballers, of whom 185 were players without disability (male: 119; female: 66) and 64 were players with disability (male learning disability: 17; male cerebral palsy: 28; male blind: 10; female deaf: 9). ASSESSMENT AND OUTCOME MEASURES:: Between-group comparisons of median SCAT3 total and section scores were made using nonparametric Mann–Whitney–Wilcoxon ranked-sum test. MAIN RESULTS:: All footballers with disability scored higher symptom severity scores compared with male players without disability. Male footballers with learning disability demonstrated no significant difference in the total number of symptoms, but recorded significantly lower scores on immediate memory and delayed recall compared with male players without disability. Male blind footballersʼ scored significantly higher for total concentration and delayed recall, and male footballers with cerebral palsy scored significantly higher on balance testing and immediate memory, when compared with male players without disability. Female footballers with deafness scored significantly higher for total concentration and balance testing than female footballers without disability. CONCLUSIONS:: This study suggests that significant differences exist between SCAT3 baseline section scores for footballers with and without disability. Concussion consensus guidelines should recognize these differences and produce guidelines that are specific for the growing number of athletes living with disability.