Background. Sports science students (SPS) are more susceptible to musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries than a young, physically active population. Due to the curriculum training load, students are physically very active which can lead to higher prevalence of injuries and overtraining and consequently to impossibility of taking exams, prolonged studying, non graduating and long term impaired workability.
Aim and hypotheses. In order to identify risk factors for MSK injuries among a young physically active population, the aim was to assess the relationship between injury risk and potential parameters of overtraining (e.g. ferritin and iron levels, amount of sleep) and ability parameters (e.g. muscle strength, vertical jump).
Methods. In our prospective cohort study we have evaluated intrinsic risk factors for MSK injuries on 54 sport science students that were followed up during first study semester (10 weeks) with OSTRC questionnaire on a weekly basis. At the beginning physical performance testing battery was conducted and blood samples were taken. The association between the occurrence of pain and possible explanatory factors - possible factors of overtraining (e.g. iron and ferritin level, amount of sleep) and factors of movement abilities (e.g. muscle strength, vertical jump) - was assessed using multiple binary logistic regression.
Results. During the 10-week prospective follow-up, SPS most frequently reported about low back pain (LBP), followed by knee problems. From the group of explanatory factors for LBP, only two were included in the final model as statistically significant: low ferritin level (OR=8.70; p=0.008) and history of previous BSH (OR=8.69; p=0.006) meant greater probability of occurrence of LBP. Students with a higher risk of knee problems were those with greater plantar left dorsiflexor strength (RO=1.024; p=0.043) and with more hours of training loads (RO=1.036; p=0.026).
Conclusion. Awareness should be raised among the students about the importance of a prevention of MSK injury. The data obtained can serve as a starting point for a comprehensive MSKI prevention (preventive medical examinations including blood tests and ability tests; preventive exercise).
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