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Sports Specialization and Sports-Related Injuries in Japanese School-Aged Children and Adolescents: A Retrospective Descriptive Study

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  • Ryosuke Shigematsu

    (Faculty of Education, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan
    Current Address: School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Aichi 470-0393, Japan.)

  • Shuta Katoh

    (Course for Health and Physical Education, Faculty of Education, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan)

  • Koya Suzuki

    (Department of Sports Science, Juntendo University, Chiba 270-1695, Japan)

  • Yoshio Nakata

    (Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan)

  • Hiroyuki Sasai

    (Research Team for Promoting Independence and Mental Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan)

Abstract

Although early sports specialization is associated with sports-related injuries, relevant quantitative studies on young non-elite athletes, the majority of sports participants, are scarce. We described sports specialization time points and the characteristics of sports-related injuries. Undergraduate students at a university in Japan ( n = 830) recalled their history of sports participation from elementary to high school and sports-related injuries in a self-administered questionnaire. Of 570 valid respondents, 486 (85%) engaged in sports at least once. Significantly more respondents played multiple sports in upper elementary school (30%) than in other school categories (1–23%). In junior high and high schools, 90% and 99% played only one sport, respectively. Of the 486 respondents who played sports, 263 (54%) had experienced acute or overuse injuries. The proportion of injured participants significantly differed by school category: lower elementary school (4%), upper elementary school (21%), junior high (35%), and high school (41%). The proportions of acute or overuse injuries in males were higher than those in females. In conclusion, this study clarified a slight variation in sports items, particularly in junior high and high schools, which demonstrates 13 years as the age of beginning specialization in a single sport. More than half of the non-elite athletes experienced sports-related injuries. Injuries were frequently observed in males and those in junior high and high schools.

Suggested Citation

  • Ryosuke Shigematsu & Shuta Katoh & Koya Suzuki & Yoshio Nakata & Hiroyuki Sasai, 2021. "Sports Specialization and Sports-Related Injuries in Japanese School-Aged Children and Adolescents: A Retrospective Descriptive Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-9, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:14:p:7369-:d:591764
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dominik Schorn & Tim Vogler & Georg Gosheger & Kristian Schneider & Sebastian Klingebiel & Carolin Rickert & Dimosthenis Andreou & Dennis Liem, 2018. "Risk factors for acute injuries and overuse syndromes of the shoulder in amateur triathletes - A retrospective analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(6), pages 1-9, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ryosuke Shigematsu & Shuta Katoh & Koya Suzuki & Yoshio Nakata & Hiroyuki Sasai, 2022. "Risk Factors of Sports-Related Injury in School-Aged Children and Adolescents: A Retrospective Questionnaire Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-13, July.

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