A Prospective Study of Injury Patterns in Collegiate Pole Vaulters

Overview

• Author: Gregory Rebella, MD
• Published: January 16, 2015, in The American Journal of Sports Medicine
• Objective: To describe injury incidence, patterns, and risks in collegiate pole vaulters.
• Type of Study: Descriptive epidemiology study.

Background

• Pole vaulting has been a collegiate event since the 1920s.
• Limited information is available on injury patterns in the sport.

Methodology

• Study Design: Prospective cohort study
• Participants: 135 collegiate pole vaulters from 15 universities
• Data Collection:
  • Baseline athlete information
  • Injury documentation using standardized forms
  • Log of practice and competition exposures
• Analysis:
  • Injury incidence reported as injured vaulters/1000 athlete-exposures
  • Regression analysis on baseline variables to determine injury risks

Results

• Injury Incidence:
  • 70 injury events during 8823 athlete exposures
  • 41% of vaulters sustained an injury
  • Incidence: 7.9 injuries per 1000 athlete-exposures
• Common Injury Locations:
  • Low back (16.7%)
  • Hamstrings (13.9%)
  • Lower leg (13.9%)
  • 60% of injuries occurred in the lower extremities
  • 21% in the upper extremities
  • 18% in the back
• Injury Types:
  • Muscular strains (39.2%)
  • Overuse injuries (25.5%)
• Injury Phases:
  • 30% occurred during the plant/takeoff phase
  • 83% of low back injuries occurred during plant/takeoff
• Severe Injuries:
  • 33% of lumbar injuries were spondylolysis, with 75% being season-ending
• Risk Factors:
  • Multiple prior injuries increased injury odds by 2.7 times (95% CI, 1.1-7.1)

Conclusion & Recommendations

• Findings:
  • High incidence of injuries among experienced pole vaulters
  • Significant prevalence of overuse-type injuries
• Recommendations:
  • Medical personnel and coaches should focus on reducing overuse injuries
  • Emphasize proper technique during the plant/takeoff phase
  • Monitor for symptomatic spondylolysis in vaulters with persistent low back pain
  • Collect detailed medical histories to identify prior injuries
  • Address technical flaws or behaviors contributing to re-injury

Related Research

• References include studies on musculoskeletal injuries, spondylolysis in athletes, and injury surveillance in sports.

Rights and Permissions

• Published by: American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
• Access and Permissions: Request permissions