Ability of Middle-School Soccer Players to Localize Overuse Leg Pain Correctly Using a Graphic Self-Report Form

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the probability of success with which middle-school-age soccer players could correctly localize lower leg pain to sites of common overuse injuries, using a graphic self-report instrument. Subjects included 98 middle-school soccer players, ages 12 to 15 years. Players' self-reports of leg pain were compared with the results of a blind physical examination. Players reporting pain of more than two weeks' duration successfully localized a statistically significant number of their sites of pain using the graphic form, providing evidence of concurrent validity. Further development is needed before the measure can be used in surveillance of overuse injuries in youth sports.