David R Bell1,2,3, Eric G Post4,2, Kevin Biese4,2, Curtis Bay5, Tamara Valovich McLeod5. 1. Wisconsin Injury in Sport Laboratory and drbell2@wisc.edu. 2. Departments of Kinesiology and. 3. Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin; and. 4. Wisconsin Injury in Sport Laboratory and. 5. Athletic Training Department, A.T. Still University, Mesa, Arizona.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Sport specialization is theorized to increase the risk of sustaining overuse musculoskeletal injuries. OBJECTIVE: To complete a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to determine if sport specialization is associated with overuse musculoskeletal injuries. DATA SOURCES: An electronic search was conducted using the search terms "specialization," "year-round," "overuse," "repetitive stress," "injury," "young," "pediatric," and "sports." STUDY SELECTION: Studies were included if their population was ≤18 years of age, if they compared athletes with high or single-sport specialization with athletes with low or multisport specialization, and focused on overuse injuries. DATA EXTRACTION: Of the 12 articles that were identified for full-text review, 5 studies met all the inclusion criteria. Four studies provided adequate data for the meta-analysis. Quality scores on the modified Downs and Black scale ranged from 69% to 81%. RESULTS: Athletes with high specialization were at an increased risk of sustaining an overuse injury compared with athletes with low (pooled relative risk [RR] ratio: 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26-2.60) and moderate (pooled RR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.05-1.33) specialization. Athletes with moderate specialization were at a higher risk of injury compared with athletes with low specialization (RR: 1.39 [95% CI: 1.04-1.87]). LIMITATIONS: Four of the 5 studies included in this systematic review were included in the meta-analysis because of the lack of access to the original data set for 1 article. CONCLUSIONS: Sport specialization is associated with an increased risk of overuse musculoskeletal injuries (Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy grade: B).
CONTEXT: Sport specialization is theorized to increase the risk of sustaining overuse musculoskeletal injuries. OBJECTIVE: To complete a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to determine if sport specialization is associated with overuse musculoskeletal injuries. DATA SOURCES: An electronic search was conducted using the search terms "specialization," "year-round," "overuse," "repetitive stress," "injury," "young," "pediatric," and "sports." STUDY SELECTION: Studies were included if their population was ≤18 years of age, if they compared athletes with high or single-sport specialization with athletes with low or multisport specialization, and focused on overuse injuries. DATA EXTRACTION: Of the 12 articles that were identified for full-text review, 5 studies met all the inclusion criteria. Four studies provided adequate data for the meta-analysis. Quality scores on the modified Downs and Black scale ranged from 69% to 81%. RESULTS: Athletes with high specialization were at an increased risk of sustaining an overuse injury compared with athletes with low (pooled relative risk [RR] ratio: 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26-2.60) and moderate (pooled RR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.05-1.33) specialization. Athletes with moderate specialization were at a higher risk of injury compared with athletes with low specialization (RR: 1.39 [95% CI: 1.04-1.87]). LIMITATIONS: Four of the 5 studies included in this systematic review were included in the meta-analysis because of the lack of access to the original data set for 1 article. CONCLUSIONS: Sport specialization is associated with an increased risk of overuse musculoskeletal injuries (Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy grade: B).
Authors: Hayley Root; Ashley N Marshall; Anna Thatcher; Alison R Snyder Valier; Tamara C Valovich McLeod; R Curtis Bay Journal: J Athl Train Date: 2019-10 Impact factor: 2.860
Authors: Amanda J Arnold; Charles A Thigpen; Paul F Beattie; Michael J Kissenberth; John M Tokish; Ellen Shanley Journal: J Athl Train Date: 2019-10 Impact factor: 2.860
Authors: Steven Jones; Sania Almousa; Alistair Gibb; Nick Allamby; Rich Mullen; Thor Einar Andersen; Morgan Williams Journal: Sports Med Date: 2019-12 Impact factor: 11.136
Authors: David R Bell; Traci Snedden; Kevin Biese; Evan Nelson; Andrew Watson; Timothy McGuine; M Alison Brooks; Roger Brown; Stephanie A Kliethermes Journal: J Athl Train Date: 2021-03-31 Impact factor: 2.860
Authors: Eric G Post; Kevin M Biese; Daniel A Schaefer; Andrew M Watson; Timothy A McGuine; M Alison Brooks; David R Bell Journal: Sports Health Date: 2019-11-14 Impact factor: 3.843