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Abstract

Context: Acrobatics and Tumbling (A&T) was recently placed on the NCAA’s emerging sports list. Due to the novelty of the sport, limited research related to injury prevalence and correlates are available. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the sport presents with high injury rates and associated costs. Information related to causes and prevalence of injury would help ATs working in the collegiate setting. Increased understanding of injury and its correlates in this population may allow ATs to provide better care. Objective: To examine descriptive injury data of acrobatics and tumbling athletes and evaluate the relationship between serum vitamin D, injury and time loss. Design: Cohort Study Setting: NCAA Division I University Sponsored Athletic Department Patients or Other Participants: Forty-two participants on the active A&T roster consented to participate in the study. Average age in the sample was 19.69 ± 1.199 years. Positional composition: 19 tops, 23 bases. Interventions: Serum vitamin D was analyzed at two timepoints 8 weeks apart. Main Outcome Measures: Serum vitamin D (ng/ml), Injury history (i.e., prevalence, mechanism, outcomes), Time loss (i.e., no time loss, time loss). Descriptive statistics were utilized in addition to t tests and ANOVAs to determine if significant differences existed in injuries and time loss based on serum vitamin D levels, or athletic position (i.e., top, base). Results: Twenty-eight injuries were sustained during the 8-week period. 11 participants sustained a time loss injury. Between week 1 and week 8, participants serum vitamin D decreased an average of 6.093 ± 10.973. There was no significant difference in serum vitamin D or change in vitamin D based on injury status (i.e., injured, non-injured) or time lost. There was a significant decrease in the serum vitamin D levels of participants between week 1 and week 8. Conclusions: No significant differences were found in injuries or time loss related to differences in serum vitamin D. However, identifiable patterns were found in injuries sustained by participating A&T athletes. Injuries identified included a high prevalence of lower extremity and soft tissue injuries. In a sport with multiple components, the majority of injuries were sustained during tumbling activities. Fifty percent of injured participants missed time due to their injuries. Serum vitamin D levels at the beginning and end of the study period showed a significant decrease as volume and intensity increased. A direct relationship between serum vitamin D and injury prevalence was not identified. However, significant decreases in serum vitamin D and high injury prevalence was found amongst participants over the eight-week period. This indicates a need for further monitoring of biomarkers such as vitamin D in these athletes, and further research to determine additional injury prevention strategies.

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