Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Track and Field: 2014–2015 Through 2018–2019

Abstract

Context College athletes have been competing in championship track and field events since 1921; the numbers of competing teams and participating athletes have expanded considerably. Background Monitoring injuries of men's track and field athletes using surveillance systems is critical in identifying emerging injury-related patterns. Methods Exposure and injury data collected in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program during the 2014–2015 through 2018–2019 academic years were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics; injury rate ratios were used to examine differential injury rates. Results Overall, men's track and field athletes were injured at a rate of 2.37 per 1000 athlete-exposures; injuries occurred at a higher rate during competition compared with practice. Most injuries were to the thigh (26.2%), lower leg (17.3%), or knee (10.7%) and were caused by noncontact (37.2%) or overuse (31.5%) mechanisms. The most reported injury was hamstring tear (14.9%). Summary The etiologies of thigh and lower-leg injuries warrant further attention in this population. Future researchers should also separately examine injury incidence during indoor and outdoor track and field seasons.