Article Text
Abstract
Objective To describe the epidemiology of injuries at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, including injuries sustained in the new sports of badminton and taekwondo.
Methods Injury data were obtained daily via the established web-based injury and illness surveillance system (WEB-IISS; 81 countries, 3836 athletes) and local organising committee medical facilities (81 countries, 567 athletes). Univariate unadjusted incidences (injuries per 1000 athlete days with 95% CIs), injury proportion (IP, %) and injury burden (days lost per 1000 athlete days) are reported.
Results A total of 4403 athletes (1853 women, 2550 men) from 162 countries were monitored prospectively during the 3-day pre-competition and 12-day competition periods (66 045 athlete days). 386 injuries were reported in 352 athletes (IP=8.0%) with an incidence of 5.8 per 1000 athlete days (95% CI 5.3 to 6.5). Football 5-a-side (17.2), taekwondo (16.0), judo (11.6) and badminton (9.6) had the highest incidence. There was a higher incidence of injuries in the pre-competition period than in the competition period (7.5 vs 5.4; p=0.0053). Acute (sudden onset) injuries and injuries to the shoulder (0.7) and hand/fingers (0.6) were most common. Injury burden was 10.9 (8.6–13.8), with 35% of injuries resulting in time loss from training and competition.
Conclusion Compared with previous Paralympic Games, there was a reduction in injury incidence but higher injury burden at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The new sports of taekwondo and badminton had a high injury incidence, with the highest injury burden in taekwondo, compared with other sports. These findings provide epidemiological data to inform injury prevention measures for high-risk sports.
- Athletes
- Covid-19
- Disabled Persons
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Footnotes
Twitter @wderman, @ISEM_SU, @CheriBlauwetMD, @drguzelidrisova, @jan.lexell, @SportswiseUK
EDI statement This study was conducted exclusively in athletes with disability, who are classified as a marginalised group, and was inclusive of all athletes participating at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The author team is balanced. The researchers represent different genders from both Northern and Southern hemispheres and different socioeconomic status countries. Furthermore, the research group includes individuals from marginalised groups, as well as perspectives from multiple disciplines.
Contributors All authors have contributed to the development, application and write-up of the study.
WD stands as guarantor.
Funding Funding for this study was provided by the IOC Research Centre South Africa grant and International Paralympic Committee research support.
Competing interests All authors have completed and submitted COI forms. WD is an associate editor of BJSM IPHP editions.
Patient and public involvement Patients and/or the public were not involved in the design, conduct, reporting or dissemination plans of this research.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
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