Contemporary reporting in sports injury epidemiology: choosing words carefully and considering a Holistic Injury Impact Framework

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a noticeable amount of discussion surrounding reporting methods in sports injury epidemiology.1–3 Particular emphasis has been placed on characterising the scope of impact that an injury poses in various sporting contexts. Depicting the extent of an injury problem using specific metrics can be complex and challenging. While movements towards comprehensive reporting are important, it is equally vital to consider the inherent characteristics of the metrics and measures reported in epidemiological studies. These considerations influence how general consumers understand the information and how medical professionals perceive and respond to the broader implications of sports-related injuries. The aim of this article is to critically examine the complexities surrounding summary metrics used to represent injury sequelae in sports injury epidemiology and to advocate for nuanced approaches to conceptualising and reporting the impact of sport-related injuries. Various methods have been used to describe the epidemiological features of injuries and to evaluate the efficacy of injury prevention measures.4–6 In efforts to describe injury sequelae, measures such as severity and injury burden are frequently employed alongside the calculation of injury incidence rates.3 While the authors herein endorse using various metrics to comprehensively illustrate the scope of injury issues, we advocate for thoroughly considering the inferential implications of the reported measures to provide a clear and multifaceted understanding, particularly for clinicians. Historically, reporting injury severity—often equated with time loss—has been a mainstay in sports injury research.7–9 Similarly, there has been a recent surge in the reporting of injury burden, typically quantified as the product of the injury incidence rate and average time loss.10 Disregarding the mathematical intricacies of calculating these measures, it is pertinent to acknowledge that metrics such as ‘severity’ and ‘burden’ represent latent or unobserved constructs. Therefore, while it may be convenient to enumerate …