Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the association between biomarkers and overuse
injuries in well-trained wrestlers. Seventy-six well-trained wrestlers on a
national team completed two blood sample collections, two clinical overuse
injuries diagnoses, and a questionnaire survey at a 2-week interval.
Multivariate logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic
curve were used to screen for related factors and construct the prediction
probability model of overuse injuries. Using a restricted cubic spline further
clarifies the relationship between biomarker levels and the risk of overuse
injuries. Creatine kinase (CK), cortisol, rheumatoid factor, testosterone in
men, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the overuse injuries group were
significantly different compared to those in the non-overuse injuries group. The
diagnostic efficiency of the prediction probability model was more valuable than
any single variable (area under the curve=0.96,
Specificity=0.91, Sensitivity=0.89, high accuracy). A J-shaped
relationship was noted between biomarkers (cortisol, CRP, and CK) and the risk
of overuse injuries (cutoff point:
17.95 μg·dL-1,
4.72 mg·L-1, and 344 U·L-1;
p for nonlinearity:<0.001, 0.025, and 0.043, respectively).
In conclusion, a predictive model based on biomarkers (cortisol, CRP, and CK)
predicted the overuse injuries risk of well-trained wrestlers. High levels of
these three biomarkers were associated with a higher risk of overuse injuries,
and a J-shaped relationship was observed between them.
Key words
blood marker - sports injury - regression model - elite athletes - risk of injury
