ABSTRACT
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly affected the lives of Japanese collegiate men's basketball players. Purpose: To describe the incidence of lower extremity injuries in Japanese collegiate men's basketball during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine the effects of the pandemic on injury patterns. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiological study. Methods: Using data from a surveillance project of the Department of Medicine and Science of the Kanto Collegiate Basketball Federation, the authors included data from 6 men's basketball teams during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons (11 team seasons). Injury rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs) were calculated according to injury type, location, and frequency. Injury burden was estimated by multiplying the injury rate by the mean days lost. Injuries from the 2020-21 to 2021-22 seasons were compared with those before the pandemic (2013-14 to 2019-20 seasons) using injury rate ratios (IRRs), with significant differences indicated when the 95% CI did not include 1.0. Results: In total, 135 lower extremity injuries were reported during 27,249 AEs. The overall injury rate of the 2020-21 to 2021-22 seasons was significantly higher than that of the 2013-14 to 2019-20 seasons (IRR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.12-1.67). Lateral ankle sprains (IRR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.02-1.86), hamstring strains (IRR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.34-6.12), jumper's knee (IRR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.13-6.37), and stress fractures of the proximal fifth metatarsal (IRR, 7.16; 95% CI, 1.31-39.08) were significantly higher during the 2020-21 to 2021-22 seasons compared with the 2013-14 to 2019-20 seasons. Conclusion: The rate of lower extremity injuries increased significantly in Japanese collegiate men's basketball players during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study emphasize the importance of optimal screening and specific loads for injury prevention when detraining periods are anticipated.
ABSTRACT
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacts not only patients but also healthcare providers. This study seeks to investigate whether a telemedicine system reduces physical contact in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigates nurses' distress and depression. Methods: Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in 4 hospitals and 1 designated accommodation measured and uploaded their vital signs to secure cloud storage for remote monitoring. Additionally, a mat-type sensor placed under the bed monitored the patients' respiratory rates. Using the pre-post prospective design, visit counts and health care providers' mental health were assessed before and after the system was introduced. Results: A total of 100 nurses participated in the study. We counted the daily visits for 48 and 69 patients with and without using the telemedicine system. The average patient visits were significantly less with the system (16.3 [5.5-20.3] vs 7.5 [4.5-17.5] times/day, P = .009). Specifically, the visit count for each vital sign assessment was about half with the telemedicine system (all P < .0001). Most nurses responded that the system was easy to use (87.1%), reduced work burden (75.2%), made them feel relieved (74.3%), and was effective in reducing the infection risk in hospitals (79.1%) and nursing accommodations (95.0%). Distress assessed by Impact of Event Scale-Revised and depression by Patient Health Questionnaire-9 were at their minimum even without the system and did not show any significant difference with the system (P = .72 and .57, respectively). Conclusions: Telemedicine-based self-assessment of vital signs reduces nurses' physical contact with COVID-19 patients. Most nurses responded that the system is easy and effective in reducing healthcare providers' infection risk.