Lumbosacral injuries in elite Paralympic athletes with limb deficiency: a retrospective analysis of patient records
Background Compared to injury data in able-bodied athletes, relatively little literature exists for Paralympic athletes. Injury data underpins the design and evaluation of injury prevention strategies in elite sport. The aim of this study was to investigate frequency, characteristics and management...
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| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2021-03-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/7/1/e001001.full |
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| author | Paul Martin Alison Rushton Nicola R Heneghan Simon Spencer Esther Collacott |
| author_facet | Paul Martin Alison Rushton Nicola R Heneghan Simon Spencer Esther Collacott |
| author_sort | Paul Martin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Compared to injury data in able-bodied athletes, relatively little literature exists for Paralympic athletes. Injury data underpins the design and evaluation of injury prevention strategies in elite sport. The aim of this study was to investigate frequency, characteristics and management of lumbosacral injuries in elite athletes with limb deficiency.Methods A retrospective analysis of injuries in elite athletes with limb deficiency (2008 to 2017) was conducted using available data extracted from The English Institute of Sport (EIS) clinical records. Eligibility criteria: funded athletes, eligible for EIS physiotherapy support with full or partial limb deficiency. Data were analysed descriptively using frequencies.Results A total of 107 injuries from 32 athletes were included. Participants comprised 18 men (59%), from 9 sports, with mean age for index injuries of 27 years (range 18 to 38 years) and 15 with congenital limb deficiency (47%). Average number of index injuries for congenital and traumatic limb deficient groups were 13 and 19, respectively. Where injury onset was recorded (n=79), half of injuries occurred during training (40%, n=43). Arthrogenic structures accounted for 32.7% of injuries, myogenic 26.2%, with neurogenic, discogenic and osteogenic each <5%. The number of treatments delivered in each injury episode ranged from 1 to 43, with symptom resolution taking 2 to 439 days.Conclusion Elite athletes with limb deficiency experience lumbosacral injuries predominantly involving muscles and joints. While consistency and accuracy of data recording limits definitive conclusions, findings highlight the importance of precision in recording injury data as part of surveillance to enable implementation of effective injury prevention strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-499aba6ed9f74f07aaa5990f1fbd6c80 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2055-7647 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-499aba6ed9f74f07aaa5990f1fbd6c802025-08-20T01:54:16ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine2055-76472021-03-017110.1136/bmjsem-2020-001001Lumbosacral injuries in elite Paralympic athletes with limb deficiency: a retrospective analysis of patient recordsPaul Martin0Alison Rushton1Nicola R Heneghan2Simon Spencer3Esther Collacott41Versus Arthritis Centre for Genetics and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, UK, Manchester, United KingdomSchool of Physical Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, CanadaCentre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UKEnglish Institute of Sport, Manchester, UKCentre for Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain (CPR Spine), School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UKBackground Compared to injury data in able-bodied athletes, relatively little literature exists for Paralympic athletes. Injury data underpins the design and evaluation of injury prevention strategies in elite sport. The aim of this study was to investigate frequency, characteristics and management of lumbosacral injuries in elite athletes with limb deficiency.Methods A retrospective analysis of injuries in elite athletes with limb deficiency (2008 to 2017) was conducted using available data extracted from The English Institute of Sport (EIS) clinical records. Eligibility criteria: funded athletes, eligible for EIS physiotherapy support with full or partial limb deficiency. Data were analysed descriptively using frequencies.Results A total of 107 injuries from 32 athletes were included. Participants comprised 18 men (59%), from 9 sports, with mean age for index injuries of 27 years (range 18 to 38 years) and 15 with congenital limb deficiency (47%). Average number of index injuries for congenital and traumatic limb deficient groups were 13 and 19, respectively. Where injury onset was recorded (n=79), half of injuries occurred during training (40%, n=43). Arthrogenic structures accounted for 32.7% of injuries, myogenic 26.2%, with neurogenic, discogenic and osteogenic each <5%. The number of treatments delivered in each injury episode ranged from 1 to 43, with symptom resolution taking 2 to 439 days.Conclusion Elite athletes with limb deficiency experience lumbosacral injuries predominantly involving muscles and joints. While consistency and accuracy of data recording limits definitive conclusions, findings highlight the importance of precision in recording injury data as part of surveillance to enable implementation of effective injury prevention strategies.https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/7/1/e001001.full |
| spellingShingle | Paul Martin Alison Rushton Nicola R Heneghan Simon Spencer Esther Collacott Lumbosacral injuries in elite Paralympic athletes with limb deficiency: a retrospective analysis of patient records BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| title | Lumbosacral injuries in elite Paralympic athletes with limb deficiency: a retrospective analysis of patient records |
| title_full | Lumbosacral injuries in elite Paralympic athletes with limb deficiency: a retrospective analysis of patient records |
| title_fullStr | Lumbosacral injuries in elite Paralympic athletes with limb deficiency: a retrospective analysis of patient records |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lumbosacral injuries in elite Paralympic athletes with limb deficiency: a retrospective analysis of patient records |
| title_short | Lumbosacral injuries in elite Paralympic athletes with limb deficiency: a retrospective analysis of patient records |
| title_sort | lumbosacral injuries in elite paralympic athletes with limb deficiency a retrospective analysis of patient records |
| url | https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/7/1/e001001.full |
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