Abstract
The Sixth All Africa Games were held in Zimbabwe in September 1995. A voluntary physiotherapy service was provided to guest athletes. Data was gathered relating to onset, mechanism, region and management of injuries. During the 10-day period of the games, 541 treatments were performed on 258 guest athletes. The onset of injury in 35.3% of cases was prior to the start of the games. Overuse was the most common mechanism of injury and 24% of injuries were in the chronic stage. The lower limb was the site of 49.5% of injuries with strains and sprains contributing 75% of the injuries in this study. All together 16 treatment modalities were used, the most frequently used being ice combined with compression. Sixty-two percent of athletes attended for a single treatment.The mechanisms, distribution and types of injuries were similar to those described by other authors. Of relevance is the number of athletes who were carrying the injury at the commencement of the games and that the main mechanism of injury was overuse. This has implications for training and treatment. The need to provide a comprehensive first treatment with advice regarding ongoing self-management was essential as the majority attended only once.
Highlights
In recent years there has been a growing awareness of the need to promote safe and successful competition by doc umenting the epidemiology of injuries sustained at large multi-sport events.[1]
A voluntary physiotherapy service was provided to both local teams and guest athletes by 40 of the 120 members of the Zimbabwe Physiotherapy Association
It is intended that such information will prove useful for any physiotherapy body that undertakes to provide treatm ent as a host nation to guest athletes
Summary
A voluntary physiotherapy service was provided to guest athletes. Data was gathered relating to onset, mechanism, region and management o f injuries. During the 10-day period o f the games, 541 treatments were perform ed on 258 guest athletes. O f relevance is the number o f athletes who were carrying the injury at the commencement o f the games and that the main mechanism o f injury was overuse. This has implications fo r training and treatment. The need to provide a comprehensive first treatment with advice regarding ongoing self management was essential as the majority attended only once.
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