Langdurend arbeidsverzuim door sportblessures: Registratie via een arbodienst

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine which types of sport contribute most to prolonged injury-related work absence and which injuries are most common. Differences in the duration of sick leave and the influence of work characteristics are also examined. Methods: This descriptive study covering 15% of the Dutch working population reviews all sick leave that was taken between March and December 2007 inclusive, identified as related to sports injuries by physicians, nurses and triage staff of a large occupational health service and which fulfilled the inclusion criteria of this study (n=300). Results: The mean duration of prolonged sickness absence due to sportsinjuries is 52 days. The average age of the absentee is 33 years. The majority of longer sick leave concerns men (79%), and with both men and women sickness absence (70%) mostly occurs <40 years. Most injuries are due to soccer (n=130), skiing and snowboarding (n=27), cycling (n=19) and horse-riding (n=12). Together they contribute to 63% of prolonged work absence. Out of all sports, injuries due to skiing and snowboarding (90 days) cause the longest absence periods. In this study, most injuries concern shoulder/arm/hand fractures (n=43) and the longest absence from work is due to cartilage injury of the knee (95 days). Employees with sedentary jobs are significantly less absent due to leg injuries than employees in other work categories. Conclusions and recommendations: The sports that contribute most to prolonged injury-related sickness absence are characterized by speed and/or contact. From a preventive point of view attention should be focussed on the longest-lasting sports injuries, such as cartilage injuries of the knee and lower leg fractures. It is recommended to continue registration in order to evaluate the consistency of this study with future datasets.