Statistics on wrestling injuries

[TomM]

Statistics on wrestling injuries
Sports Doc
Justin Shaginaw, M.P.T., A.T.C.
Posted: Wednesday, February 5, 2014, 6:00 AM   
A 2008 article by Yard et al in The American Journal of Sports Medicine calculated rates of injury among high school and college wrestlers during the 2005-2006 season using the High School Reporting Information Online (RIOTM) and the NCAA Injury Surveillance System (ISS).   It also characterized the incidence and type injuries and compared risk factors for high school and college wrestling injuries.
There were 387 injuries among participating high school wrestlers during 166,279 athlete-exposures, for an injury rate of 2.33 injuries per 1000 athlete-exposures (AE).
258 injuries occurred among college wrestlers during 35,599 athlete-exposures, for an injury rate of 7.25 injuries per 1000 AE.  The injury rate was higher in college than in high school.
Injury rates were higher in matches than in practices for both high school and college. 
Sprains/Strains
Strains/sprains accounted for approximately half of all high school (48.1%) and college (49.2%) injuries.  The most common high school injury sites were the shoulder (18.6%) and knee (15.4%) while the knee (24.8%), shoulder (17.8%), and head/face (16.6%) were most common in college.
The most frequent high school injuries were:
•Shoulder strains/sprains (8.5%),
•Ankle strains/sprains (7.6%),
•Knee strains/sprains (7.0%)
•Trunk strains/sprains (6.0%)
•Neck strains/sprains (5.4%)
•Concussions (5.4%).
The most frequent college injuries were:
•Knee strains/sprains (17.1%),
•Shoulder strains/sprains (8.1%),
•Shoulder dislocations/subluxations (8.1%),
•Head/face lacerations (7.4%),
•Ankle strains/sprains (7.0%),
•Concussions (5.8%),
•Trunk strains/sprains (5.0%),
•Upper leg/hip strains/sprains (5.0%).
In both high school and college, similar proportions of injured wrestlers resumed wrestling in:
•Less than 1 week (44.9% and 42.6%, respectively),
•1-3 weeks (29.1% and 30.2%)
•>3 weeks (26.0% and 27.1%, respectively).
Takedowns and sparring were the most commonly cited activities leading to injury for both high school and college.  Skin infections represented 8.5% of all reported high school adverse events and 20.3% of all reported college adverse events.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sportsdoc/Statistics-on-wrestling-injuries.html#6T7ogH2RKw08Qdvs.99
Dislocations/subluxations
Dislocations/subluxations account for approximately 10% of all wrestling injuries.  These are urgent and often times emergent injuries requiring immediate care from an athletic trainer followed by a referral to a sports medicine physician or the emergency room.  These injuries most commonly occur to the shoulder, elbow, and patella and require a prolonged period off the mat and rehabilitation.
Lacerations
Lacerations are much more common in college wrestling and account for approximately 10 percent of collegiate injuries.  These injuries vary in severity with some being managed by your athletic trainer with an immediate return to practice or the match while others require physician referral for sutures.  Suturing may require a period of time off the mat depending on the location.
Fractures
Fractures are the second most common injury in high school wrestlers accounting for approximately 15 percent of all injuries.  These are emergent injuries requiring immediate care from an athletic trainer and referral to a sports medicine physician or the emergency room.  Fractures require a significant period of time off the mat and are often season-ending.
Concussions
Concussions account for approximately 5 percent of injuries for both high school and college wrestlers.  The majority of concussions resolve within a week.  A small portion will require a prolonged recovery period and may require a significant amount of time away from the sport.  All concussions should be taken seriously and evaluated initially by the team's athletic trainer with a referral to s sports medicine physician trained in evaluation and management of athletic concussions.
Skin infections
Skin infections represented 8.5% and 20.3% of all reported high school and college adverse events respectively.
•Herpes 47.1% was the most frequently skin infection, followed by:
•impetigo 36.8%,
•Tinea corporis 7.4%,
•Cellulitis 5.9%,
•Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)2.9%. 
All individuals with skin infections resumed wrestling during the season, with the majority of both high school (67.7%) and college (70.5%) wrestlers missing less than 1 week.
All wrestlers with a skin infection should be evaluated by a physician for appropriate medical treatment as dictated by National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).  Wrestlers will also need a clearance letter from their physician clearing them to return to practice and competition.  There are also prophylactic treatment options for some dermatologic conditions such as herpes which can be prescribed by a physician.
Wrestling injuries are usually due to the combative nature of the sport.  As you can see, sprains and strains account for the majority of wrestling injuries.  Most of these are minor and can be managed conservatively with a quick return to sports.  The above treatment recommendations are just a guideline and any injury should be evaluated by your team's athletic trainer or a sports medicine physician to accurately diagnose the injury and provide appropriate care.