Research indicates few teen athletes disclose musculoskeletal injuries

Chiropractic care can aid in sports injury treatment. However, a patient must disclose the injury before it can be treated, which one new study reveals isn’t likely to happen when dealing with teen athletes.

According to a 2023 systematic review of the research, between 34.1% and 65% of teen athletes sustain a sports injury. Gender, age, body mass index and training practices all play a role in whether an injury occurs, with sports such as soccer and football also contributing to an elevated injury risk. 

Teen athletes’ low intention to disclose

A recent study published in the Journal of Athletic Training involved a survey of 564 teen athletes. Just over 80% (457 athletes) reported a musculoskeletal injury related to their sport. Of these, 77% indicated they either did not report or purposely hid their injury from a medical professional or someone in authority. 

When pressed further about their disclosure beliefs, researchers found: 

• 53.7% of teen athletes said reporting a musculoskeletal injury is necessary if they think it is serious 
• 37.4% felt the need to report a musculoskeletal injury if it is severe enough to keep them from playing their sport 
• 24.9% of teen athletes said they would feel a need to disclose if the injury affects their game 

Responses also revealed only 36.5% of teen athletes believed in reporting a musculoskeletal issue right when it occurred or when pain first appeared, even if the injury didn’t seem severe. By default, 63.5% of these athletes didn’t feel the need to tell anyone when they were injured if, according to their self-assessment, the injury wasn’t serious.  

Factors impacting disclosure intention

Researchers also identified several factors that affected whether a teen athlete might choose to disclose. They found teen athletes with greater knowledge of musculoskeletal injuries had a 6% higher intention to disclose. Unit increases in injury attitude also led to a 7% increase in disclosure intention, with increases in social norm scores leading to an 18% higher likelihood too. 

Other factors were identified as not impacting the intention to disclose. They included the athlete’s gender, whether an athletic trainer was present and whether the teen athlete had a history of musculoskeletal injury. 

Three overarching study findings

Researchers took three main findings away from this study. The first was there is a low level of knowledge within this demographic as to the symptoms of a musculoskeletal injury and its consequences. Many participants only perceived an injury as something to worry about if it resulted in disability or pain so severe it impacted their ability to participate.  

Second, fewer than one in four teen athletes didn’t feel the need to disclose an injury unless it prevented them from playing their sport of choice. Third, several factors can impact a teen athlete’s intention to disclose a musculoskeletal condition, many of which are also factors associated with a lower intention to disclose a concussion. 

Help teen athletes open up about an injury

Sports DCs can help teen athletes heal and recover from sports injuries. This process begins with creating a space where the young patient feels comfortable saying when they’re hurt or may be injured. How do you do this? 

A study of 61 teen athletes being treated at a pediatric clinic in North Carolina found almost all supported a website and other resources designed to help them communicate with their care provider. That makes this a great topic to discuss on your blog or some other prominent place on your site. Giving them access to a portal where they can send you questions can also help start this conservation. 

Final thoughts on treating teen athletes

It is important to share with teen patients the importance of disclosing a musculoskeletal issue, the consequences of injuries left untreated and tips for talking with you and other healthcare providers. Let them know you’re there to help, which can hopefully get more teen athletes to disclose an injury, thereby enabling more injuries to be treated.