Sports Injury Patterns and Economic Consequences Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Norwegian Study (2017-2020)
This study investigated sports-related injury incidence, associated costs, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these metrics across five popular Norwegian sports. Analyzing insurance data from licensed athletes aged 13-50 years between 2017 and 2020,researchers examined injury rates,affected body regions,and economic burdens in football,handball,athletics,gymnastics,and swimming.
the four-year analysis revealed significant variations in injury rates between sports. Athletics and handball demonstrated the highest incidence rates, exceeding those observed in football, gymnastics, and swimming. Across all sports studied,lower extremity injuries were the most frequent and contributed the largest proportion of overall injury costs. Notably, surgical interventions accounted for over half of the total costs associated with injuries in both handball and football.
A particularly concerning finding was the high rate of permanent medical impairment following injuries in gymnastics, affecting more than 20% of cases.
The first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) brought changes to sports participation and injury patterns. while the number of licensed athletes and overall injury incidence decreased in most sports, athletics experienced an increase in both athlete numbers and injury rates.
These findings underscore the importance of developing targeted injury prevention strategies. Specific focus should be placed on athletics due to its high overall injury rate, and on lower extremity injuries in handball and football given their significant economic impact. The elevated risk of long-term medical impairment in gymnastics also warrants focused attention. The study highlights how external factors, such as a global pandemic, can significantly influence sports participation and injury trends.
Keywords: athletic injuries; athletics; football; gymnastics; handball; injury costs; swimming.