The Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Injuries in 2015-2016 Kuwaiti Track and Field Athletes

Abstract

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of the type and severity of musculoskeletal injuries sustained by Kuwaiti track and field athletes from different sporting clubs during a one-year period from October 2015 to October 2016, and to compare their rates of overuse and acute injuries. Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Setting: All injury data was reported and recorded by Sports Medicine and Health Awareness Center (SMHAC) - Public Authority for Sports in The State of Kuwait.Participants: Track and field Kuwaiti male athletes from different sporting clubs during a one-year period from October 2015 to October 2016. A total of 54 Subjects consisted of 19 sprinters and hurdles, 18 middle and long distance, 10 jumpers and 7 throwers.Main Outcome Measure(s): All injury data was obtained and analyzed from The (SMHAC) computer software. Results: During the study period a total of 334 musculoskeletal injuries from different sports were diagnosed and recorded by physiotherapists in (SMHAC). A total of 54 injuries were reported from male track and field athletes, which accounted for 16.2% of the total of 334 musculoskeletal injuries during 2015-2016 sports season. Track athletes (sprinting and running) suffered more injures 37 (68.5%) than field athletes (throwing and jumping) 17 (31.4%). In addition, sprinters, hurdlers, and middle-distance runners sustained more acute type injuries, whereas jumpers and throwers experienced more overuse type injuries. The most common sites of injury was the knee 20 (37.0%), thigh 9 (16.7%%), ankle 7 (12.9%), back 5 (9.3%), elbow 5 (9.3%) and shoulder 3 (5.6%). The most common major musculoskeletal injuries were muscle strains 19 (35.2%), stress fractures 13 (24.1%), sprains 15 (27.7% including 11 back sprains), and cartilage and ligaments ruptures 7 (12.9%).