Pediatric wheelchair athletics: sports injuries and prevention

Abstract

Two hundred and forty-seven competitors at the 1990 Junior National Wheel chair Games (USA) were surveyed for general information, training techniques, and injury patterns. Eighty-three athletes (34%) responded to the retrospective survey. Injuries were reported by 97% of those participating in track, 22% of the field participants, and 91% of the swimming competitors. A wide variety of injuries was reported ranging from minor bruises, blisters and abrasions to more serious problems (bladder infections, hyperthermia, and soft tissue injuries). While information-reporting biases may be inherent in this type of study, these data are significant in that they are the first obtained for this specific pediatric population via a systemic scientific approach and not from merely anecdotal information.

Sports Injuries to High School Athletes With Disabilities

“…In contrast, the only previous study of sports injuries among athletes with a disability reported that 97% of elite youth wheelchair athletes with disabilities were injured annually. 6 A higher intensity of practice and competition among elite athletes who participate in a national league is not surprising and likely leads to greater injury risk compared with athletes from an interscholastic program.…”

“…Ninety-seven percent of 6-to 18-year-old wheelchair athletes from the junior division of the National Wheelchair Athletic Association reported an injury either during training or competition in 1990. 6 To address this research gap, our study examined injury during organized competitive sports in the special education school setting. Eight teams were followed for 4 sports seasons from a special education interscholastic sports league in a large urban school district.…”

A Descriptive Study of Self‐Reported Injury in Non‐elite Adaptive Athletes

“…Our report also includes several adaptive sports that have been less well studied even at the elite level. Sports most commonly studied in the literature include wheelchair basketball, track and field, swimming, and wheelchair racing . There have been very few studies investigating injuries incurred in adaptive rowing, wheelchair rugby, and sled hockey .…”

Physically challenged adolescents and sports

“…In general, athletes with myelomeningocele have decreased aerobic power and, decreased peak anaerobic power (1,3,4,14). There is also a high association of Arnold-Chiari type 2 malformations and tethered cord syndrome in these adolescents.…”

“…Athletes participating in wheelchair athletics are at a higher risk for upper extremity overuse injuries, shoulder and wrist being the most common injuries reported (13,14). Athletes participating in wheelchair athletics are at a higher risk for upper extremity overuse injuries, shoulder and wrist being the most common injuries reported (13,14).…”