Low back pain or injury before collegiate athletics, a potential risk factor for non-contact athletic injuries.

Context: Majority of research surrounding the predictive value of clinical measurements and assessments for future athletic injury does not differentiate between contact and non-contact injuries.

Objective: We assessed the association between clinical measures and questionnaire data collected prior to sport participation and the incidence of non-contact lower extremity (LE) injuries among Division III collegiate athletes.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: University setting, NCAA Division III.

Participants: 488 Division III freshmen athletes were recruited to participate in the study during their preseason physical examinations.

Patients Or Other Participants: 10,983 public schools.

Main Outcome Measure: Prospective incidence of non-contact Lower extremity Injury.

Methods: Athletes completed questionnaires to collect demographics and musculoskeletal pain history. Clinical tests, performed by trained examiners, included hip provocative tests, visual appraisal of a single leg squat to identify dynamic knee valgus, and hip range of motion (ROM). Injury surveillance for each athlete's collegiate career was performed. The athletic training department documented each athlete-reported, new onset injury and documented the injury location, type, and outcome (days lost, surgery performed). Univariable Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) models were used to analyze the relationship between each clinical measure and the first occurrence of non-contact LE injury. An exchangeable correlation structure was used to account for repeated measurements within athletes (right and left limbs).

Results: Of the 488 athletes, 369 athletes (75%) were included in the final analysis. 69 non-contact LE injuries were reported. Responding "Yes" to "Have you ever had pain or an injury to your low back" was associated with an increased risk of non-contact LE, odds ratio = 1.59 (95%CI 1.03- 2.45, p=.04). No other clinical measures were associated with increased injury risk.

Conclusion: A history of prior low back pain or injury was associated with an increased risk of sustaining a non-contact LE injury while participating in NCAA Division III athletics.