PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF SPORTS INJURY IN SUNDERGARH DISTRICT

Background: Sundergarh district in Odisha is widely known for its strong sporting culture, especially in hockey, athletics, and Kabaddi. However, regional data on sports-related injuries are limited, making it difficult to develop targeted preventive and rehabilitation strategies. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of sports injuries among athletes in Sundergarh district. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 320 athletes aged 10–35 years engaged in structured sports training. Data on demographics, sports participation, injury profile, associated factors, and treatment-seeking behaviour were collected using a validated semi-structured questionnaire. Multistage sampling was used, and data were analysed using SPSS version 25 with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. Results: Of the 320 athletes enrolled, 186 (58.1%) reported at least one injury in the previous 12 months. The ankle (28.5%), knee (22.0%), and shoulder (14.5%) were the most frequently affected sites. Sprains (31.7%), strains (27.3%), and contusions (18.8%) were the most common injury types. Non-contact mechanisms accounted for 54.8% of injuries. High training intensity (p = 0.01), absence of warm-up (p = 0.03), and poor field conditions (p = 0.02) showed significant associations with injury occurrence. Physiotherapy services were sought by 42% of injured athletes, while only 18% consulted medical professionals. Conclusion: Sports injuries are highly prevalent in Sundergarh district, with lower-limb and soft-tissue injuries being predominant. Modifiable risk factors including lack of warm-up, excessive training load, and inadequate playing surfaces contribute substantially to injury risk. Improving preventive practices and access to sports medicine services is essential to reduce the injury burden.