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The epidemiology of injuries in powerlifting at the L ondon 2012 P aralympic G ames: An analysis of 1411 athlete‐days
Author(s) -
Willick S. E,
Cushman D. M.,
Blauwet C. A.,
Emery C.,
Webborn N.,
Derman W.,
Schwellnus M.,
Stomphorst J.,
Van de Vliet P.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/sms.12554
Subject(s) - medicine , athletes , epidemiology , physical therapy , incidence (geometry) , prospective cohort study , sports medicine , surgery , physics , optics
Sport injury epidemiology has received increased recognition as a field of sport medicine research that can improve the health and safety of athletes. Injuries among Paralympic powerlifters have not previously been systematically studied. The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to characterize injuries among Paralympic powerlifters. Athletes competing in the sport of powerlifting were followed over the 7‐day competition period of the 2012 L ondon P aralympic G ames. The main outcome measurements were injury incidence rate ( IR ; number of injuries per 1000 athlete‐days) and injury incidence proportion ( IP ; injuries per 100 athletes). A total of 38 injuries among 163 powerlifters were documented. The overall IR was 33.3 injuries/1000 athlete‐days (95% CI 24.0–42.6) and the overall IP was 23.3 injuries per 100 athletes (95% CI 16.8–29.8). The majority of injuries were chronic overuse injuries (61%). The most commonly injured anatomical region was the shoulder/clavicle (32% of all injuries), followed by the chest (13%) and elbow (13%). The information obtained in this study opens the door for future study into the mechanisms and details of injuries into powerlifters with physical impairments.