Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40182392›Full record

ArticleCureus2025

Injury Risk in Pole Vaulters: The Impact of Landing Technique and Experience Level in an Observational Study of 1,012 Athletes and 6,751 Attempts.

Jeremy Scott, Conner Howard, Christopher Hendrix, Andrea Siu, Jacqueline Nguyen, Spencer Chang, Leila Ben-Youssef

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Epidemiology, Work-Up, and Management of Common Track and Field Injuries.Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Jeremy ScottOrthopaedic Surgery, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, USA.
Conner HowardOrthopaedic Surgery, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, USA.
Christopher HendrixOrthopaedic Surgery, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, USA.
Andrea SiuResearch Institute, Hawaii Pacific Health, Honolulu, USA.
Jacqueline NguyenOrthopaedic Surgery, San Mateo Medical Center, San Mateo, USA.
Spencer ChangOrthopaedic Surgery, Pali Momi Medical Center, Aiea, USA.
Leila Ben-YoussefOrthopaedic Surgery, Pali Momi Medical Center, Aiea, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPole vaulting is a complex track and field event where athletes sprint down a runway, using a flexible pole to propel themselves over a horizontal crossbar. While safety regulations have reduced catastrophic injury rates, lower extremity injuries remain prevalent and demand further investigation. However, injury risks remain a concern due to the complexity of the sport and repetitive fall from heights. This study aims to investigate the correlation between landing mechanics and injury rates in pole vaulting. The authors hypothesize that improper landing techniques significantly increase the risk of injury, particularly in less experienced athletes.

methodsThis study was conducted at a national indoor pole vault event consisting of 1,012 athletes, ranging from beginner to elite level. Data was collected on skill level, landing location and position, and injuries. Only injuries sustained during a competitive vault attempt were considered for data analysis, which included descriptive statistics.

resultsThe landing injury rate was low at 0.12%, with eight injuries occurring in 6,751 vault attempts. Notably, no injuries occurred in athletes with optimal landing mechanics. All reported injuries affected the lower extremities and were exclusively observed in less experienced vaulters.

conclusionThough pole vaulting is a relatively safe sport, catastrophic injuries are possible and the injuries that do occur are preventable, as this study reveals they occur at a higher rate in inexperienced vaulters as well as with an improper landing technique. Coaches and athletes should emphasize proper landing techniques to prevent injuries and improve performance.

Indexed as

landing injuriesorthopaedicspole vaultsportstrack and field

Identifiers

PMID40182392
PMCPMC11968068

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.