Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Swimming and Diving: 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019

J Athl Train. 2021 Jul 1;56(7):719-726. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-703-20.

Abstract

Context: The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has sponsored men's swimming and diving since 1937.

Background: Routine examinations of men's swimming and diving injuries are important for identifying emerging injury-related patterns.

Methods: Exposure and injury data collected in the NCAA 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, and injury rate ratios were used to examine differences in injury rates.

Results: The overall injury rate was 1.56 per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs) for swimmers and 1.52 per 1000 AEs for divers. Shoulder (27.0%) injuries accounted for the largest proportion of all swimming injuries, and most injuries were attributed to overuse mechanisms (42.6%). Shoulder (23.3%) and trunk (23.3%) injuries accounted for the largest proportion of all diving injuries, and most injuries resulted from surface contact (32.6%).

Conclusions: Findings were consistent with existing literature on swimming and diving. The need for continued surveillance, coupled with more robust participation by swimming and diving programs was also highlighted.

Keywords: collegiate; sport-related; surveillance.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Athletes / statistics & numerical data
  • Athletic Injuries* / classification
  • Athletic Injuries* / epidemiology
  • Athletic Injuries* / prevention & control
  • Diving / injuries*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Swimming / injuries*
  • United States / epidemiology