A Comparative Study of Sports Injury Incidence and Patterns Between Under-19 and Senior Athletes

Abstract

Abstract Background: While participation in sports aids overall physical and mental development, it inherently creates a risk of sports injuries. Significant variations in injury patterns occur based on age, training intensity, and developmental stage. Understanding age-specific injury patterns is crucial for creating effective and targeted preventive strategies. Objective: To conduct a thorough comparative evaluation of sports injury trends, types, causes, and post injury management practices among under-19 (U-19) and senior category male and female competitive athletes using a standardized and validated research instrument. Methodology: Using a comparative cross-sectional design, a cohort of 300 competitive athletes was selected via stratified random sampling (150 U-19: 85 females, 65 males; 150 seniors: 65 females, 85 males). Data were collected using expert-validated sports injury epidemiological questionnaires (Overall S-CVI = 0.99, κ = 0.94). Chi-square (χ²) tests were conducted at p < 0.05. Results: Significant differences were observed between under-19 and senior athletes regarding injury type (p < 0.01), cause of injury (p < 0.01), and medical consultation habits (p < 0.01). Senior athletes exhibited a higher prevalence of chronic/overuse injuries affecting the lower body. Conversely, under-19 athletes showed a higher rate of acute/traumatic injuries due to poor technique or direct collision. Keywords: Sports injuries, Under-19, Senior athletes, Instrument validation, Content Validity Index, Chi-square analysis