Abstract
Sports-related injuries and illnesses in Paralympic sport (SRIIPS) are a concern, but knowledge about the etiology and risk factors is limited. The aim of this study was to describe the annual incidence, type, and severity of injuries and illnesses among Swedish Paralympic athletes and to assess risk factors. Swedish Paralympic athletes (n=107) self-reported SRIIPS every week during 52weeks using an eHealth application. Incidence proportions (IP) and incidence rates (IR) were used as measures of disease burden. Time-to-event methods (Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression) were used to identify risk factors. The annual IP for injury was 68% and for illness 77%. The injury IR was 6.9/1000hours and the illness IR 9.3/1000hours. The median time to injury was 19weeks (95% CI: 10.5-27.4) and to illness 9weeks (95% CI: 1.4-16.6). Most injuries occurred during training, and 34% were classified as severe (≥21days of time loss). An increased injury risk was observed among athletes in team sports (HR 1.88; 95% CI: 1.19-2.99), athletes with a previous severe injury (HR 2.37; 95% CI: 1.47-3.83), and male athletes (HR 1.76; 95% CI: 1.06-2.93). The most common illness type was infection (84%). Athletes in team sports (HR 1.64; 95% CI: 1.05-2.54) and males with a previous illness (HR=2.13; 95% CI: 1.04-4.36) had a higher illness risk. Paralympic athletes report a high incidence of injuries and illnesses over time. This emphasizes the need to develop preventive strategies of SRIIPS and optimize medical services for this heterogeneous athlete population.
Highlights
Sports-related injuries and illnesses in Paralympic sport (SRIIPS) are a concern, but knowledge about the etiology and risk factors is limited
To enable weekly data collection of SRIIPS in a heterogeneous and geographically spread population, we developed and evaluated an eHealth-based self-report application adapted to Paralympic athletes with physical impairment (PI), visual impairment (VI), and intellectual impairment (II).[13]
Results from the Cox regression analyses using univariate models showed that athletes with a previous severe injury had more than twice the risk (HR = 2.37; 95% CI 1.47-3.83) of sustaining a new injury
Summary
Sports-related injuries and illnesses in Paralympic sport (SRIIPS) are a concern, but knowledge about the etiology and risk factors is limited. The aim of this study was to describe the annual incidence, type, and severity of injuries and illnesses among Swedish Paralympic athletes and to assess risk factors. Athletes in team sports (HR 1.64; 95% CI: 1.05-2.54) and males with a previous illness (HR = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.04-4.36) had a higher illness risk. Conclusion: Paralympic athletes report a high incidence of injuries and illnesses over time. This emphasizes the need to develop preventive strategies of SRIIPS and optimize medical services for this heterogeneous athlete population. Several studies have assessed the incidence of SRIIPS during the Paralympic Games 5-9 and reported higher incidence proportions compared to able-bodied. There is a need for prospective studies that assess the incidence of SRIIPS over a longer time. Risk factors and mechanisms of SRIIPS specific to Paralympic athletes need to be investigated, as their impairments may influence the risk.[11]
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