Descriptive Epidemiology of Shoulder Injuries among a Population of Senior Athletes

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Shoulder injuries are common in athletes of all skill levels and ages, and potentially affect their sports participation and daily function. Data regarding the impact of shoulder injuries in senior athletes is missing from the literature. Shoulder injuries may have greater functional implications in the senior athlete population than in younger athletes. PURPOSE: To examine the impact of shoulder injuries on senior athletes. METHODS: Activity and injury surveys with a shoulder-specific component were completed at the 2007 Huntsman World Senior Games. Data were analyzed for frequencies and descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Of 78 respondents, 46 (59%) reported having a prior sports-related shoulder injury. The average age of injured athletes was 64, and 48% were male. The dominant side was affected in 70% of cases. The majority of injured athletes (54%) altered training due to sport-related shoulder injury, and 20% stopped their sport entirely. The median time loss from sport was 180 days. The minority (35%) of athletes required shoulder surgery. 75% of surgeries were on the dominant side. The average age of athletes with surgery was older than of all injured athletes (70 vs 64 p=0.0022), and a higher proportion of surgically treated athletes were female (56%). Athletes with a prior sports-related shoulder injury who had surgery had a lower mean pain score than those who were treated non-operatively (VAS=0.56 vs 2.23; p=0.0005). Responses to a modified American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Score revealed little to no effect of the shoulder injuries on activities of daily living. CONCLUSIONS: Shoulder injuries among senior athletes are common and tend to affect the dominant side. Shoulder injuries in senior athletes result in significant time loss from training and competition, but do not significantly affect activities of daily living. The majority of respondents reported some persistent pain with the greatest pain reported by those with prior shoulder injury who did not have surgical treatment.