The Impact of Overtraining on Injury Rates in School-Age Athletes—A Scoping Review
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Search Strategy
2.2. Eligibility
2.3. Review Process
2.4. Data Extraction and Synthesis
3. Results
Study | Study Design | Study Group: Age [years]; Body Mass [kg]; Body Height [cm] | Aim | Intervention | Affected Body Region | Results |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tak et al. [34] | Retrospective cross-sectional study | 63 footballers (63M); Age: 23.1 ± 4.2; Weight: 78.2 ± 7.9; Height: 182.3 ± 7.3. Age at start of football: 6.4 ± 2.4; Age of professional football start: 12.5 ± 2.9 | To investigate if there is a dose–response relationship between the frequency of playing football during skeletal growth and the presence of a cam deformity To investigate whether the age at which a player starts playing football is associated with the presence of a cam deformity in adulthood. | Cam deformity: Weight bearing in AP and frog-leg lateral radiographs. Measurement of the α angle in both hips. The threshold for cam deformity was set to α angle >60°. The threshold for pathological cam deformity was set to α angle >78°. Athletic activity: The age at which participants started playing football, the number of plays per week, and leg dominance were assessed by questionnaire. | Femoral neck | There was a higher prevalence of cam deformity in frog-leg lateral radiographs in players who started professional football training at a younger age. There was no difference in AP radiographs. |
Matsuda et al. [35] | Case report | 1 footballer (M) Age: 11; Weight: 39; Height: 142 | To describe a bony bump on the femoral neck possibly induced by repetitive microtrauma, probably due to overtraining as a soccer goalkeeper. | X-ray, MRI, and CT were performed to find the cause of hip pain. Arthroscopy was performed to collect samples for histology and to perform resection of excessive tissue. | Femoral neck | The patient successfully returned to play within four months postoperatively, with no recurrence of symptoms observed during the one-year follow-up period. |
McGowan et al. [36] | Cross-sectional study | 914 children (376M); Age: 12.6 ± 0.5; Weight: nd.; Height: nd. | To investigate whether early specialization and exceeding current recommendations regarding sport participation volume are associated with injury history in children. | Questionnaire assessment of specialization, participation volume, and occurrence of sports injuries in the last 12 months. | Lower limb (62%); Upper limb (26%); Head and torso (12%). | Neither early specialization in one sport nor exceeding currently recommended sport participation volumes increased the odds of reporting a history of injury. |
O’Keeffe et al. [37] | Prospective cohort study | 97 Gaelic footballers (97M); Age: 13.4 ± 1.1; Weight: 59.3 ± 12.5; Height: 160 ± 10. | Impact of internal load on injury incidence in male adolescent Gaelic footballers. | A self-recall diary was utilized to record sports and recreational activities. Injuries were monitored for 15.2 ± 8.9 weeks. Injury onset, occurrence, location, nature, mechanism, and severity (days missed from participation) were recorded. | Lower limb (68%); Upper limb (23%); Trunk (9%). | Higher than average values of weekly load, monotony, and absolute load change were significant injury factors. |
Hildebrandt et al. [38] | Prospective cohort study | 91 elite ski racers; M: 52; Age: 12.1 ± 1.3; Weight: 42.7 ± 8.8; Height: 152.6 ± 9.8. F: 39 Age: 12.0 ± 1.3; Weight: 43.5 ± 9.7; Height: 152.4 ± 10.0. | To prospectively examine training load as it relates to the occurrence, severity, and burden of injuries and illness in youth alpine ski racers. | Prospective analysis of the training load characteristics, traumatic injuries, overuse injuries, and illness throughout 1 season. | Knee (39%); Lower leg (18%); Ankle (12%); Spine/back (10%); Upper leg (7%); Hip (5%); Foot (5%); Head (2%); Shoulder (2%). | A higher intensity and volume of the training were associated with increased illness, but not a higher risk of injury. |
3.1. Characteristics of Participants
3.2. Summary of Study Aims
3.3. Summary of Study Methods and Outcome Measures
3.4. Summary of Injury Sites
3.5. Summary of the Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Borkowski, R.; Krzepota, J.; Wróbel, M.; Madej, D.; Błażkiewicz, M. The Impact of Overtraining on Injury Rates in School-Age Athletes—A Scoping Review. J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14, 4712. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14134712
Borkowski R, Krzepota J, Wróbel M, Madej D, Błażkiewicz M. The Impact of Overtraining on Injury Rates in School-Age Athletes—A Scoping Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2025; 14(13):4712. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14134712
Chicago/Turabian StyleBorkowski, Rafał, Justyna Krzepota, Mikołaj Wróbel, Dominika Madej, and Michalina Błażkiewicz. 2025. "The Impact of Overtraining on Injury Rates in School-Age Athletes—A Scoping Review" Journal of Clinical Medicine 14, no. 13: 4712. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14134712
APA StyleBorkowski, R., Krzepota, J., Wróbel, M., Madej, D., & Błażkiewicz, M. (2025). The Impact of Overtraining on Injury Rates in School-Age Athletes—A Scoping Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(13), 4712. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14134712