Personalizing Injury Management and Recovery: A Cross-Sectional Investigation of Musculoskeletal Injuries and Quality of Life in Athletes

Abstract

Purpose: The study explores the impact of Musculoskeletal Injuries on the quality of life in youth athletes, aiming to understand the extent of these injuries’ effects on their physical and mental wellbeing. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 130 youth athletes, using questionnaires to collect data on demographics, training exposures (averaging 11±3.8 hours/week), overuse symptoms (using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Overuse Injury Questionnaire), acute injury history, and overall wellbeing (assessed by the RAND 36-item Short Form Health Survey). Results: Findings indicated that 55.4% of participants had suffered an acute injury in the past 6 months, leading to an average of 4 weeks of time loss. The mean score for OSTRC-O Scores was 16.8±6.4, with knee overuse averaging 21.3± 8.8. In terms of wellbeing, physical and mental health scores were 82.4±15.3 and 81.7±14.1 respectively. There were significant correlations between higher overuse scores and poorer physical functioning (r=−0.42), bodily pain (r=−0.38), vitality (r=−0.32), and mental health (r=−0.31). Acute injuries were linked with worse physical functioning and role limitations. Regression analysis showed that both overuse and acute injuries predicted poorer physical health. Conclusion: The study underscores the significant prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries among youth athletes and delineates their profound impact on the quality of life, encompassing both the physical and mental health realms. These findings advocate for the critical integration of preventive measures and personalized training protocols, spotlighting the pivotal role of comprehensive biopsychosocial strategies in nurturing athletes’ overall wellbeing. By prioritizing the quality of life as a key outcome, this research advocates for a more nuanced approach to injury management and recovery.