Patterns and management of severe muscle, tendon, and cartilage injuries in elite badminton players: a discipline-based analysis of singles and doubles
Abstract
BackgroundThis study examined severe muscle, tendon, and cartilage injury characteristics, post-injury management, and psychological concerns between singles and doubles elite badminton players.MethodsThis retrospective cross-sectional study included 126 elite badminton players (64 singles and 62 doubles). Lifetime severe-injury experience, injury characteristics, post-injury management, psychological concerns, and RTP were assessed. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to analyze binary outcomes while accounting for within-athlete correlations. Multicategory outcomes were summarized descriptively using all 87 selected injury records, and inferential comparisons were performed using one injury record per athlete (n = 73), retaining either the earlier or later injury in separate analyses.ResultsLifetime severe-injury experience was reported by 57.9% of players (54.7% in singles; 61.3% in doubles). Among 73 affected players, 87 severe injury records were selected for analysis, predominantly involving the lower limbs (78.2%) and overuse mechanisms (64.4%). Unadjusted GEE analysis showed higher odds of dominant-side involvement among selected injury records from currently classified singles players than among those from doubles players (OR = 3.11, 95% CI = 1.21–7.95, p = 0.018). Surgery, medical clearance prior to RTP, and reinjury did not differ significantly between disciplines. Of the selected injury records, 66.7% lacked medical clearance prior to RTP, and 52.9% had a reported history of reinjury.ConclusionsMost severe injury characteristics and post-injury management outcomes were similar between singles and doubles players, although exploratory analyses identified a difference in dominant-side involvement among the selected injury records. These findings suggest potential discipline-related differences warranting further investigation.
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BibTeX
@article{su2026patterns,
title = {{Patterns and management of severe muscle, tendon, and cartilage injuries in elite badminton players: a discipline-based analysis of singles and doubles}},
author = {Kunxia Su and Munku Song and Dongsoo Lee},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1980850},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1980850},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Patterns and management of severe muscle, tendon, and cartilage injuries in elite badminton players: a discipline-based analysis of singles and doubles
AU - Kunxia Su
AU - Munku Song
AU - Dongsoo Lee
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/09
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1980850
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1980850
AB - BackgroundThis study examined severe muscle, tendon, and cartilage injury characteristics, post-injury management, and psychological concerns between singles and doubles elite badminton players.MethodsThis retrospective cross-sectional study included 126 elite badminton players (64 singles and 62 doubles). Lifetime severe-injury experience, injury characteristics, post-injury management, psychological concerns, and RTP were assessed. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to analyze binary outcomes while accounting for within-athlete correlations. Multicategory outcomes were summarized descriptively using all 87 selected injury records, and inferential comparisons were performed using one injury record per athlete (n = 73), retaining either the earlier or later injury in separate analyses.ResultsLifetime severe-injury experience was reported by 57.9% of players (54.7% in singles; 61.3% in doubles). Among 73 affected players, 87 severe injury records were selected for analysis, predominantly involving the lower limbs (78.2%) and overuse mechanisms (64.4%). Unadjusted GEE analysis showed higher odds of dominant-side involvement among selected injury records from currently classified singles players than among those from doubles players (OR = 3.11, 95% CI = 1.21–7.95, p = 0.018). Surgery, medical clearance prior to RTP, and reinjury did not differ significantly between disciplines. Of the selected injury records, 66.7% lacked medical clearance prior to RTP, and 52.9% had a reported history of reinjury.ConclusionsMost severe injury characteristics and post-injury management outcomes were similar between singles and doubles players, although exploratory analyses identified a difference in dominant-side involvement among the selected injury records. These findings suggest potential discipline-related differences warranting further investigation.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -