Injuries in elite athletes in the Olympic period from 2008 to 2012

Abstract

Research related to injuries of elite athletes is very demanding in comparison to research on injuries in team sports, and therefore, there are a lot fewer resources and data on injuries in track and field sports than in other sports. MATERIAL AND METHODS. The research included 78 athletes who were the members of junior and senior national track and field team of Serbia (34 women and 44 men), aged 15 to 32 years. The research was conducted in the official training camp for the national selection in Bar (Montenegro) by using a non-standardized survey research technique, an anonymous questionnaire. Out of the total number, 59 athletes reported incidence of injury and 19 athletes were without injury over the four-year cycle. The majority of injuries were reported on the lower extremities, i.e. in 90.8% (n=158), the upper leg and the hamstring muscle having been injured in 99 cases (56.9%) and 61 cases (35.05%), respectively. The most common type of injuries were strains (n=74; 42.5%), followed by partial ruptures (n=30, 16.3%) and distortion (n=25; 14.4%). The most frequent diagnosis was hamstring strain (n=37; 21.3%). Inadequate procedures related to the extent and intensity of training, without prevention of injury, often lead to injuries in athletes. It is necessary to carry out continuous educational training, especially for coaches, whose effects should be reflected in the introduction of new knowledge and scientific achievements in the field of biomechanics, training technology, prevention and cure in the field of sports medicine. It is also very important to achieve adequate and constant cooperation between sports physicians and athletic clubs.