001 INJURIES SUSTAINED DURING MARATHON KAYAK COMPETITION: THE DEVIZES TO WESTMINSTER RACE

M. R. Carmont, M. R. Baruch, C. Burnett, P. Cairns, J. W. K. Harrison.Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital North Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent & Stepping Hill Hospital, Manchester, UK

Objectives: To assess the incidence and aetiological factors of injuries sustained during marathon kayak competition.

Methods: A postal questionnaire was distributed to competitors following the Devizes to Westminster Canoe and Kayak Marathon 2004. This 125 mile race is completed in either continuous or staged categories allowing group comparison.

Results: 103 competitors replied (46%), and reported injuries to wrists (21%), shoulders (19%), back (14%) and hands (13%).

Specifically incidences of 43% for tenosynovitis and 16% for sciatica were reported and these were similar in both continuous and staged groups (46%vs37% for tenosynovitis and 14%vs20% for sciatica respectively).

68% used wing paddles; however, there was no difference between the incidence of tenosynovitis with paddle type.

A mean paddle blade offset of 68.1 degrees was recorded by those who reported tenosynovitis and 69.4 degrees by those who did not.

A mean seat height of 7.9 cm was recorded by those reporting sciatica compared to 7.8 cm for non-sufferers.

Conclusions: Overuse injuries occur commonly during marathon kayak racing. There was a slightly increased incidence of tenosynovitis in continuous paddlers. Paddle type, blade offset and seat height do not appear to be aetiological factors for tenosynovitis and sciatica. Training pattern may well be a more important factor.

002 COMPARISON OF TWO METHODS OF SHOULDER PROPRIOCEPTION ASSESSMENT IN NON-INJURED SUBJECTS

C. Tinning, A. Crofts, D. Hunter, J. MacLean, W. S. Hillis.The National Stadium Sports Medicine Centre, Hampden Park, Glasgow, G42 9ED UK

Aim: To compare shoulder proprioception assessment using a newly devised Biodex Balance System single arm stability test with Reproduction of Passive Positioning (RPP) assessment.

Methods: 20 subjects were tested using both methods. Main outcome measures calculated over three trials per subject were Absolute Matching Error (AME) …