Background and aims
Participation in sport is beneficial, yet athletes are exposed to risk of injury and pain. This study examined (i) incidence of injury-related pain in collegiate athletes and (ii) described interference in sport associated with pain. 

Methods
A longitudinal study (weekly reporting) was carried out with 4 male university teams; 1 rugby union (n=26), 1 field hockey (n=28) and 2 Gaelic football (n=68). Injury was defined as ‘any physical complaint resulting from sport participation, irrespective of need for medical attention or time-loss from sport activities’. Pain severity was measured with a numerical rating scale. Interference was measured by perceived decrement in performance and days lost from sport in the previous week. Percentages, means and confidence intervals summarised data. One-way ANOVA compared average weekly time-loss across pain severity categories. 

Results
In total, 1097 complete weekly reports were received (n=122 individuals). Within these, 88 athletes (73.2%; 95% CI 63.2-79.7) reported incidence of injury on 271 occasions. Pain was associated with injury in 94% of incident reports; 41.7% mild, 43.2% moderate, 9.1% severe.  This equated to 66.4% players (95% CI 57.2-74.5) reporting injury-related pain. Pain was associated with limitations in sport performance; 88.2% of players with mild, 94.7% with moderate and 100% with severe pain.  There was a significantly higher average time loss from sport each week with increased pain severity (mild =2.39, moderate=3.08, severe=4.13 days, p=0.003) 

Conclusions
Injury-related pain is reported by 2 in 3 college team athletes, associated with short-term limitations. Further exploration of longer-term effects and chronicity is warranted.

INJURY RELATED PAIN IN COLLEGIATE ATHLETES IN ONE REPORTING SEASON