Predicting Recovery of Lower Extremity Sports Injuries in Primary Care

Objectives: To survey patient characteristics and elements of primary care that contribute to the recovery of patients with non-acute sports related injuries to the lower extremity. Methods: Prospective observational study based on information on patient characteristics, physicians’ care and recovery gathered with questionnaires from physicians and patients during the first consultation and from patients at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after inclusion. Results: Physicians and patients response rates of questionnaires during the entire study period amounted to at least 90 percent. At one month athletically competitive patients with symptoms of 3 months duration prior to consultation showed no or less sport discontinuation as a result of the injury than athletically non-competitive patients with symptoms of > 3 months duration, while at 12 months male patients were more likely to continue sports activities than female patients. Overall, sport discontinuation due to the injury decreased significantly over time. Conclusion: Athletically competitive patients with symptoms of 3 months duration or less were least likely to discontinue their sports participation at one month. No elements of administered primary care were identified for the accurate prediction of sport discontinuation in the GP office. In general, sport discontinuation decreased gradually over time.