A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON INTRINSIC AND EXTRINSIC RISK FACTORS FOR STRESS-RELATED INJURIES IN ATHLETES UNDERGOING SPORTS TRAINING: A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

Abstract

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess the impact of intrinsic (internal) and extrinsic (external) risk factors on the nature of stress-related injuries sustained during intense sports training. The study evaluated two consecutive training periods (Jul–Dec 2022 and Jan–May 2023) among male and female athletes in a large sports training academy in South India. The incidence of stress fractures (a subset of overuse injuries) in male athletes was 11 (15%) during Jul–Dec 2022, which decreased to 9 (12%) in Jan–May 2023 after implementation of targeted preventive measures. In female athletes, stress fractures decreased from 4 (6%) to 2 (3%) between the two periods. The tibia was the most affected bone in stress fractures among male athletes (7–8% of stress-related injuries), whereas pelvic stress fractures (28%) were most frequent in female athletes. Injuries occurring during routine training sessions (25%) were more common than those during competition (18.2%). Among external risk factors, the use of inappropriate footwear, excessive training load leading to fatigue, and inadequate recovery (cumulatively observed in ~22.7% of cases) were the most frequently identified contributors. These findings suggest that strategic modifications in training and preventive interventions can reduce the incidence of stress-related injuries in athletes. The study highlights the need for continual risk factor assessment and injury prevention strategies in sports training programs.