An injury prediction score based on structural symmetry was not a valid means of predicting lower extremity injury in high school basketball players, yielding a sensitivity of 16.7% and PPV of 5.9%.
Cohort (n=62)
Does an injury score based on structural symmetry predict lower extremity injuries in high school basketball players?
An injury score based on structural symmetry is not a valid tool for predicting lower extremity injuries in high school basketball players.
A number of strategies have been investigated in an attempt to identify those individuals most likely to be injured during participation in sports activity. One such strategy identified in the literature involved computing an "injury score" via a logistic regression equation using measures of structural symmetry to predict the likelihood of athletic injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive value of the injury score among high school basketball players. Following the establishment of reliability of measures, injury scores were calculated for 62 high school basketball players (34 females, 28 males) before the start of the season. Lower extremity injuries sustained while playing basketball were recorded throughout the season. The predictive value of the injury score equation was determined by calculating sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. The sensitivity and specificity were calculated to be 16.7% and 66.1%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were calculated to be 5.90% and 88.1%, respectively. These results indicate that the injury prediction score investigated was not a valid means of predicting injury in high school basketball players. Limitations, possible implications of these findings, and ideas for future related research are presented.
Grubbs et al. (1997) conducted a cohort in Athletic injury (n=62). Injury score was evaluated on Lower extremity injuries. An injury prediction score based on structural symmetry was not a valid means of predicting lower extremity injury in high school basketball players, yielding a sensitivity of 16.7% and PPV of 5.9%.