Descriptive Epidemiology of High School Swimming and Diving Injuries

Abstract

Objective: Using data from a longitudinal national sports injury surveillance program, this study aimed to calculate injury rates and describe injury patterns across high school swimmers and divers. Design: Descriptive Epidemiological Study. Athletic trainers (ATs) from participating high schools reported injuries from swimming and diving programs for the High School Reporting Information Online system. Setting: Convenience sample of high school boys and girls' swimming and diving injuries during the 2008 to 2019 school years. Patients or other Participants: High school boy and girl swimmers and divers (aged ∼14-18 years). Independent Variables: Exposure data on gender, location of injury (practice vs competition), mechanism of injury, and sport (swimming vs diving). Main Outcome Measures: Injury rates, rate ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals, and other descriptive statistics were performed. Results: 563 swimming and diving injuries occurred during 2 171 260 athlete exposures (0.26 per 1000 athlete exposures). Girls had higher injury rates than boys overall (RR 1.57, P < 0.05), in practice (RR 1.53, P < 0.05), and competition (RR 1.81, P < 0.05). In swimmers, most injuries were to the shoulder (48.6%), associated with the freestyle (67.3%), and classified as overuse/chronic (58.0%). Among divers, most injuries were to the head/face (36.6%) and from contact with the playing surface (68.3%). Conclusions: Girls had statistically significantly higher injury rates than boys. The shoulder and head/face were the most injured body parts in swimmers and divers, respectively. Swimming injuries were most frequently of an overuse etiology, whereas diving injuries were more likely traumatic. Coaches and ATs should be aware of these findings to develop targeted strategies for injury prevention.