STUDENTS’ INJURIES AT THE FACULTY OF SPORT AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION - AN ANALYSIS OF TWO STUDY PROGRAMS

The aim of this research is to analyze the injuries of the students of the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, as well as to determine, if possible, if the increase in the number of injuries is caused by increased pressure, brought by a new study program, when doing exercises. The sample was composed of 207 participants, who attended the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Nis, aged 23 years ± 6 months. The questionnaire was the main measuring instrument for the evaluation of injuries. The participants were asked to answer by circling options concerning the location of their injury, the classes during which the injury occurred, as well as the type of injury. All the gathered data have been represented numerically and in percentages, and used for further analysis. The analysis of the gathered results showed that there is a higher index of injury during practice with students who have studied according to the Undergraduate academic study program, and that there is a difference in the rate of injuries in certain classes between the two study programs. The results of this study show that an increase in the intensity of work and increase in the teaching hours led to higher risk of injury. Future research, dealing with similar topics, on the basis of this research may compare students’ injuries in both the old and new school system, which gives this study a special significance.