Mechanisms of sport‐related injuries in physical education teacher education students: A descriptive analysis of 896 injuries

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine sport‐related injury mechanisms in physical education teacher education (PETE) students. This prospective cohort study (40 weeks) in first‐year PETE students obtained self‐reported characteristics of injuries (body part, injury setting, injury mechanism, and movements related to the cause of injury). Students (N = 759) from the academic years of 2015‐2016, 2016‐2017, and 2017‐2018 participated in this study. Descriptive data analysis was conducted on the injury characteristics. In total, 896 injuries were registered by 489 (64%) students. Large proportions of the injuries resulted from both non‐contact (N = 496, 56%) and contact (N = 381, 42%) mechanisms. The most common injury mechanism was gradual onset non‐contact (N = 275, 31%). High proportions of non‐contact injuries were found in curricular practices (N = 120, 44%) and extra‐curricular practices (N = 30, 38%). Injuries during extra‐curricular games were mainly contact related (N = 133, 81%). Furthermore, injury onset was most commonly associated with a landing (N = 179, 29%), a fall (N = 158, 25%), and an explosive movement (N = 114, 18%). The most common injury mechanism was gradual onset non‐contact. For practices (curricular and extra‐curricular) and extra‐curricular games, the most common injury mechanism was, respectively, non‐contact and contact with an person. Furthermore, injuries were most commonly associated with landings, falls, and explosive movements.