Citation

Magno E Silva MP, Winckler C, Costa E Silva AA, Bilzon JLJ, Duarte E. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2013; 45(5): 908-913.

Affiliation

1Department for Adapted Physical Education, University of Campinas, Brazil 2Department for Movement Science, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil 3Department for Health, University of Bath, United Kingdom.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1249/MSS.0b013e31827f06f3

PMID

23247703

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology, nature and pattern of sports injuries in Brazilian Paralympic track and field athletes with visual impairment and assess differences between visual classes and sex. METHODS: Forty visually impaired elite Paralympic athletes participated in this study (28 males and 12 females). All athletes competed in International Paralympic competitions between 2004 and 2008. According to the visual classification, 14 athletes were T/F11, 15 T/F12 and 11 were T/F13. A standardised report form was used to collect injury data during five competitions. RESULTS: Thirty-one athletes reported 77 sports injuries, with a prevalence of 78%, a clinical incidence of 1.93 injuries per athlete, an incidence rate of 0.39 injuries per athlete per competition. Overuse injuries accounted for 82% and traumatic injuries 18% (p<0.05). Small variations in the prevalence and clinical incidence of injury between sexes and visual classes were observed, but these were not statistically different (p>0.05). The highest distribution of injury was in the lower limbs (87%), followed by spine (12%) and upper limbs (1%). The body regions most affected were the thighs (33.8%), lower legs (16.9%) and knees (9.1%). The most frequent diagnoses were spasms (26%), tendinopathies (23.4%), and strains (13%). CONCLUSION: Elite visually impaired track and field Paralympic athletes present a pattern of overuse injuries predominantly affecting the lower limbs, particularly the thighs, lower legs and knees. These injuries are associated with tendinopathies, muscle spasms and strains. There were no apparent differences in injury characteristics between visual classes or sex.

Language: en