Risk of injuries in Paralympic track and field differs by impairment and event discipline A prospective cohort study at the London 2012 Paralympic Games

Background: The incidence rates (IRs) and factors associated with injuries in the sport of Paralympic athletics (track and field) have not been comprehensively and prospectively studied. Purpose: To determine injury IRs, characteristics of injuries, and associated factors in the sport of athletics at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 977 athletes competing in the sport of athletics were followed over a total 10-day competition period of the Paralympic Games. Daily injury data were obtained via 2 databases: (1) a custom-built, web-based injury and illness surveillance system (WEB-IISS), maintained by team medical personnel; and (2) the organizing committee database, maintained by medical providers in the medical stations operated by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Athlete impairment and event discipline were obtained via the International Paralympic Committee athlete database. IRs (injuries per 1000 athlete-days) by impairment, event discipline, sex, and age were examined. Results: The overall IR was 22.1 injuries per 1000 athlete-days (95% CI, 19.5-24.7). In track disciplines, ambulant athletes with cerebral palsy experienced a lower incidence of injuries (IR, 10.2; 95% CI, 4.2-16.2) when compared with ambulant athletes from other impairment categories. Athletes in seated throwing experienced a higher incidence of injuries (IR, 23.7; 95% CI, 17.5-30.0) when compared with athletes in wheelchair racing (IR, 10.6; 95% CI, 5.5-15.6). In both track and field disciplines, the majority of injuries did not result in time loss from competition or training. Ambulant athletes experienced the greatest proportion of injuries to the thigh (16.4% of all injuries; IR, 4.0), observed predominantly in track athletes. Wheelchair or seated athletes experienced the greatest proportion of injuries to the shoulder/clavicle (19.3% of all injuries; IR, 3.4), observed predominantly in field athletes. Conclusion: This is the first prospective cohort study examining injury IRs and associated factors in the sport of athletics at the Paralympic Games. Injury patterns were specific to the event discipline and athlete impairment. The majority of injuries occurred to the thigh (ambulant athletes) or shoulder/clavicle (wheelchair or seated athletes) and did not result in time loss. </jats:sec

Sport, sex and age increase risk of illness at the Rio 2016 Summer Paralympic Games: a prospective cohort study of 51 198 athlete days

OBJECTIVETo describe the epidemiology of illness at the Rio 2016 Summer Paralympic Games. METHODS A total of 3657 athletes from 78 countries, representing 83.5% of all athletes at the Games, were monitored on the web-based injury and illness surveillance system (WEB-IISS) over 51 198 athlete days during the Rio 2016 Summer Paralympic Games. Illness data were obtained daily from teams with their own medical support through the WEB-IISS electronic data capturing systems. RESULTSThe total number of illnesses was 511, with an illness incidence rate (IR) of 10.0 per 1000 athlete days (12.4%). The highest IRs were reported for wheelchair fencing (14.9), para swimming (12.6) and wheelchair basketball (12.5) (p<0.05). Female athletes and older athletes (35–75 years) were also at higher risk of illness (both p<0.01). Illnesses in the respiratory, skin and subcutaneous and digestive systems were the most common (IRs of 3.3, 1.8 and 1.3, respectively). CONCLUSION (1) The rate of illness was lower than that reported for the London 2012 Summer Paralympic Games; (2) the sports with the highest risk were wheelchair fencing, para swimming and wheelchair basketball; (3) female and older athletes (35–75 years) were at increased risk of illness; and (4) the respiratory system, skin and subcutaneous system and digestive system were most affected by illness. These results allow for comparison at future Games

The epidemiology of injuries in powerlifting at the London 2012 Paralympic Games : an analysis of 1411 athlete-days

Sport injury epidemiology has received increased recognition as a field of sport medicine research that can improve the health and safety of athletes. Injuries among Paralympic powerlifters have not previously been systematically studied. The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to characterize injuries among Paralympic powerlifters. Athletes competing in the sport of powerlifting were followed over the 7-day competition period of the 2012 London Paralympic Games. The main outcome measurements were injury incidence rate (IR; number of injuries per 1000 athlete-days) and injury incidence proportion (IP; injuries per 100 athletes). A total of 38 injuries among 163 powerlifters were documented. The overall IR was 33.3 injuries/1000 athlete-days (95% CI 24.0–42.6) and the overall IP was 23.3 injuries per 100 athletes (95% CI 16.8–29.8). The majority of injuries were chronic overuse injuries (61%). The most commonly injured anatomical region was the shoulder/clavicle (32% of all injuries), followed by the chest (13%) and elbow (13%). The information obtained in this study opens the door for future study into the mechanisms and details of injuries into powerlifters with physical impairments.The authors also wish to thank Acer for donating 20 tablet computers utilized as an incentive to team physicians for study participation. This study was approved and supported by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1600-08382017-10-31hb2016Sports Medicin

The epidemiology of injuries in football at the London 2012 Paralympic Games

BACKGROUND : The epidemiology of injury in Paralympic football has received little attention. A study of all sports at the London 2012 Paralympic Games identified football 5-a-side as the sport with the highest injury rate, meriting further detailed analysis, which may facilitate the development of strategies to prevent injuries. OBJECTIVE : To examine the injury rates and risk factors associated with injury in Paralympic football. DESIGN : Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of injuries to football 5-a-side and football 7-a-side athletes. SETTING : London 2012 Paralympic Games. Participants: Participants included 70 football 5-a-side athletes and 96 football 7-a-side athletes. Athletes from all but one country chose to participate in this study. METHODS : The Paralympic Injury and Illness Surveillance System was used to track injuries during the Games, with data entered by medical staff. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURMENTS : Injury incidence rate (IR) and injury incidence proportion (IP). RESULTS : The overall IR for football 5-a-side was 22.4 injuries/1000 athlete-days (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.1-33.8) with an IP of 31.4 injuries per 100 athletes (95% CI, 20.9- 43.6). In 5-a-side competition, 62.5% of injuries were associated with foul play. The overall IR for football 7-a-side was 10.4 injuries/1000 athlete-days (95% CI, 5.4-15.5), with an IP of 14.6 injuries per 100 athletes (95% CI, 7.5-21.6). The most commonly injured body region in both sports was the lower extremity. CONCLUSIONS : To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine IR and risk factors associated with injury in Paralympic football. Future studies are needed to determine mechanisms of injury and independent risk factors for injury, thus informing prevention strategies.http://www.pmrjournal.org2017-06-30hb2016Sports Medicin

The incidence and patterns of illness at the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic Games:a prospective cohort study of 6564 athlete days

OBJECTIVE To describe the epidemiology of illness at the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic Games. METHODS A total of 547 athletes from 45 countries were monitored daily for 12 days over the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic Games (6564 athlete days). Illness data were obtained daily from teams without their own medical support (13 teams, 37 athletes) and teams with their own medical support (32 teams, 510 athletes) through electronic data capturing systems. RESULTS The total number of illnesses reported was 123, with an illness incidence rate (IR) of 18.7 per 1000 athlete days (95% CI 15.1% to 23.2%). The highest IR was reported for wheelchair curling (IR of 20.0 (95% CI 10.1% to 39.6%)). Illnesses in the respiratory system (IR of 5.6 (95% CI 3.8% to 8.0%)), eye and adnexa (IR of 2.7 (95% CI 1.7% to 4.4%)) and digestive system (IR of 2.4 (95% CI 1.4% to 4.2%)) were the most common. Older athletes (35–63 years) had a significantly higher IR than younger athletes (14–25 years, p=0.049). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study indicate that Paralympic athletes report higher illness incidence rates compared to Olympic athletes at similar competitions. The highest rates of illness were reported for the respiratory and digestive systems, eye and adnexa, respectively. Thus, the results of this study form a basis for the identification of physiological systems at higher risk of illness, which can in turn inform illness prevention and management programmes with eventual policy change to promote athlete safety in future editions of the Winter Paralympic Games.IOC Research Centre (South Africa) Grant, IPC Research Grant.http://bjsm.bmj.comam2016Sports Medicin

High incidence of injury at the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic Games:a prospective cohort study of 6564 athlete days

ObjectiveTo describe the epidemiology of injuries at the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic Games.MethodsA total of 547 athletes from 45 countries were monitored daily for 12 days during the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic Games (6564 athlete days). Daily injury data were obtained from teams with their own medical support (32 teams, 510 athletes) and teams without their own medical support (13 teams, 37 athletes) through electronic data capturing systems.ResultsThere were 174 total injuries reported, with an injury incidence rate (IR) of 26.5 per 1000 athlete days (95% CI 22.7% to 30.8%). There was a significantly higher IR recorded in alpine skiing/snowboarding (IR of 41.1 (95% CI 33.7% to 49.6%) p=0.0001) compared to cross-country skiing/biathlon, ice sledge hockey or wheelchair curling. Injuries in the shoulder region were the highest single-joint IR (IR of 6.4 (95% CI 4.6% to 8.6%)), although total upper and lower body IR were similar (IR 8.5 vs 8.4 (95% CI 6.4% to 11.1%)). Furthermore, the IR of acute injuries was significantly higher than other types of injury onset (IR of 17.8 (95% CI 14.7% to 21.4%)).ConclusionsIn a Winter Paralympic Games setting, athletes report higher injury incidence than do Olympic athletes or athletes in a Summer Paralympic Games setting. The highest incidence of injury was reported in the alpine skiing/snowboarding sporting category. There was a similar incidence of injury in the upper and lower limbs. The joint with the greatest rate of injury reported was the shoulder joint. Our data can inform injury prevention programmes and policy considerations regarding athlete safety in future Winter Paralympic Games.</jats:sec

High precompetition injury rate dominates the injury profile at the Rio 2016 Summer Paralympic Games:a prospective cohort study of 51 198 athlete days

This is the second significant dataset to document the incidence of injury in a Summer Paralympic Games setting. Pre-competition injury rates were significantly higher than competition injury rates. The sports of football 5-a-side, judo and football 7-a-side had a significantly higher incidence of injury, compared to all other sports, whilst boccia and Para swimming had a significantly lower injury rate. The shoulder joint was the most commonly injured anatomical area. Acute injuries constituted the highest injury rate at the Games

High incidence of injuries at the Pyeongchang 2018 paralympic winter games: A prospective cohort study of 6804 athlete days

Given the increase in health surveillance research in the sporting arena, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) seeks to preserve the health of the para athlete in several ways including high-quality epidemiological research on injury and illness in the Paralympic Games.1–5 Web-based studies began at the London 2012 Summer Paralympic Games1 and have continued at the Rio 20165 Summer Games and at Paralympic Winter Games at the Sochi 20144 and Pyeongchang 2018 Game