Determining the relationship between physical status and musculoskeletal injuries in children: a cohort study

Yohei Tomaru; Hiroshi Kamada; Yuta Tsukagoshi; Shogo Nakagawa; Kenta Tanaka; Ryoko Takeuchi; Yuki Mataki; Mio Kimura; Shumpei Miyakawa; Masashi Yamazaki

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Determining the relationship between physical status and musculoskeletal injuries in children: a cohort study

VernacularTitle:Determining the relationship between physical status and musculoskeletal injuries in children: a cohort study
Author: Yohei TOMARU ¹ ; Hiroshi KAMADA ¹ ; Yuta TSUKAGOSHI ¹ ; Shogo NAKAGAWA ¹ ; Kenta TANAKA ¹ ; Ryoko TAKEUCHI ² ; Yuki MATAKI ² ; Mio KIMURA ¹ ; Shumpei MIYAKAWA ¹ ; Masashi YAMAZAKI ¹
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1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan
2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences Hospital, Japan
Keywords: children; physical findings; musculoskeletal injuries; sports
From:Journal of Rural Medicine 2020;15(3):116-123
CountryJapan
Language:English
Abstract: Background: In Japan, in 2016, the School Health and Safety Act was revised and examination of extremities in addition to scoliosis became mandatory. Musculoskeletal examinations were subsequently started using a mark sheet-type questionnaire. In the present study, we aimed to analyze the relationship between physical findings and musculoskeletal problems and propose a preventive strategy for musculoskeletal injuries.Methods: In 2017, a total of 4,073 elementary and middle school students underwent direct musculoskeletal examination. In a direct examination, the following elements were included: torticollis; scoliosis; stiffness of the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle; flexion and extension in standing position; flat foot; hallux valgus; and alignment of the upper and lower extremities. Of the 4,073 students who underwent direct examination in early 2017, only 3,754 were able to complete the mark sheet-type questionnaires in early 2018. A prospective longitudinal analysis of the data gathered was performed.Results: A total of 396 (11%) students had injuries. The ankle sprain/non-ankle sprain group comprised 119 (3%)/3,635 (97%) students, while the fracture/non-fracture group comprised 105 (2.8%)/3,650 (97.2%) students, respectively. Comparing the sprain group with the non-sprain group, ankle stiffness significantly correlated with ankle sprain in the univariable and multivariable analyses. Injuries occurred more frequently among boys, older students, students with stiff bodies, and students who were involved in sports activities of longer duration.Conclusion: Ankle stiffness was assumed to be a risk factor for ankle sprain. Stretching of the ankle might be effective for preventing ankle sprain. However, further interventional studies are needed to confirm this finding.