Lower Leg Pain in Elite Adolescent Athletes at the Academy for Sport Excellence at the Wingate Institute

Background: Lower leg pain (LLP) is a common finding in elite athletes, and is a debilitating overuse injury of the tibia. Accounting for 5% of reported athletic injuries, it is a frequent complaint at the Academy for Sport Excellence.

Aims: To characterize lower leg injury among athletes at the Academy and their course, the distinction between bony and soft tissue impairments, and the training limitations stemming from each category.

Methods: Data from the Academy`s athletes` medical files was collected and analyzed.

Results: From September 2015 to March 2016 nineteen athletes (10% of academy athletes) with LLP were treated. The majority was female (n=16), basketball and volleyball players. Most athletes treated for LLP were diagnosed as suffering from MTSS. In eight cases the severity of complaints and disability resulted in two weeks` time loss from practice. Three female athletes were diagnosed as suffering from a stress fracture, confirmed by imaging.

Discussion: Our results indicated an overwhelming majority of LLP cases among female athletes. In accordance with the literature, the diagnosis of MTSS accounted for most cases.

Conclusions: In light of the high number and debilitative nature of LLP cases we suggest that prevention efforts should be focused on female team athletes.