Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Lower Extremity Injuries in Japanese Collegiate Men's Basketball Players

Yuta Sekine; Kotaro Kamada; Takeshi Koyama; Seigo Hoshikawa; Eri Ito; Sayuri Uchino; Takayuki Komatsu

doi:10.1177/23259671231173367

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Lower Extremity Injuries in Japanese Collegiate Men's Basketball Players

Orthop J Sports Med. 2023 May 30;11(5):23259671231173367. doi: 10.1177/23259671231173367. eCollection 2023 May.

Authors

Yuta Sekine^{1

2

3}, Kotaro Kamada^{3

4}, Takeshi Koyama^{3

5}, Seigo Hoshikawa^{3

6}, Eri Ito^{3

7}, Sayuri Uchino^{7

8}, Takayuki Komatsu^{3

7}

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Teikyo Heisei University, Nakano-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
² Faculty of Sports and Health Science, Daito Bunka University, Higashimatsuyama-shi, Saitama, Japan.
³ Department of Medicine and Science, Kanto Collegiate Basketball Federation, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ Graduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama, Japan.
⁵ Department of Competitive Sports, School of Physical Education, Tokai University, Hiratsuka-shi, Kanagawa, Japan.
⁶ School of Social Informatics, Aoyama Gakuin University, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa, Japan.
⁷ Department of Sports Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
⁸ Department of Sports Medicine, Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Inzai-shi, Chiba, Japan.

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly affected the lives of Japanese collegiate men's basketball players.

Purpose: To describe the incidence of lower extremity injuries in Japanese collegiate men's basketball during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine the effects of the pandemic on injury patterns.

Study design: Descriptive epidemiological study.

Methods: Using data from a surveillance project of the Department of Medicine and Science of the Kanto Collegiate Basketball Federation, the authors included data from 6 men's basketball teams during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons (11 team seasons). Injury rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs) were calculated according to injury type, location, and frequency. Injury burden was estimated by multiplying the injury rate by the mean days lost. Injuries from the 2020-21 to 2021-22 seasons were compared with those before the pandemic (2013-14 to 2019-20 seasons) using injury rate ratios (IRRs), with significant differences indicated when the 95% CI did not include 1.0.

Results: In total, 135 lower extremity injuries were reported during 27,249 AEs. The overall injury rate of the 2020-21 to 2021-22 seasons was significantly higher than that of the 2013-14 to 2019-20 seasons (IRR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.12-1.67). Lateral ankle sprains (IRR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.02-1.86), hamstring strains (IRR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.34-6.12), jumper's knee (IRR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.13-6.37), and stress fractures of the proximal fifth metatarsal (IRR, 7.16; 95% CI, 1.31-39.08) were significantly higher during the 2020-21 to 2021-22 seasons compared with the 2013-14 to 2019-20 seasons.

Conclusion: The rate of lower extremity injuries increased significantly in Japanese collegiate men's basketball players during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study emphasize the importance of optimal screening and specific loads for injury prevention when detraining periods are anticipated.

Keywords: ankle; athletic injuries; epidemiology; foot bones; hamstring muscles; knee.