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1434 - Preliminary Report on Fencing-related Injuries in NCAA Competitive Fencers during 2023-24 Season.

Friday, February 28, 2025

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM MST

Presenting Author(s)

ES

Ellisha Shinchuk, n/a

Person of Interest
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Newton, Massachusetts, United States

Co-Author(s)

Daniel H. Daneshvar, MD, PhD

Chief of Brain Injury Rehabilitation
Harvard Medical School
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
DB

Daniel Barron, MD PhD

Physician
MassGeneralBrigham
Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States

Objectives: The goal of this study was to find the incidence of fencing-related injuries in NCAA competitive fencers and to determine the site of injuries, mechanisms and setting of injuries, the proportion of injuries that required medical attention and time off practice or competition.

Design: A RedCap-based survey of NCAA college fencers was conducted to ascertain the incidence and characteristics of fencing-related injuries during the 2023-24 season.

Results: 116 responses received to date that met inclusion criteria were analyzed. There were 54 male and 62 female athletes all between 18 to 23 years old. 47 were epee, 36 foil, and 33 saber fencers. The average fencing experience was 9.37±3.54 years. 62.1% of fencers reported at least one injury during the season. The average number of injuries was 1.85±1.10. 61 surveys had all information for the first injury: 72.1% were sustained during practice and the rest occurred in competition; knee and ankle were most common injuries at 21.3% and 19.7% respectively; 88.5% of injuries were non-contact injuries with only 6.6% of injuries due to contact with the opponent or 4.9% with the opponent’s blade; 78.7% of injuries required medical attention with 6.6% requiring surgery; 73.7% of fencers abstained from practice or competition due to injury.

Conclusions: More than half of athletes reported at least one fencing-related injury during the 2023-24 NCAA season with more injuries sustained during practice than competition and majority of injuries occurred due to intrinsic efforts rather than contact with the opponent or opponent’s blade. Consistent with previous reports, knee and ankle were the most common injury sites. About three quarters of the athletes sought medical treatment and took time off practice and competition post injury; alarmingly, 4 out of 61 injured fencers required surgery. Further detailed epidemiological studies are needed to evaluate fencing-related injuries and potentially mitigate the associated risks.