Prevalence of Sports‐Related Injuries and Illnesses in Paralympic Athletes

Fagher, Kristina; Dahlström, Örjan; Jacobsson, Jenny; Timpka, Toomas; Lexell, Jan

doi:10.1002/pmrj.12211

Cited by 51 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…[13,14,43] An example of an injury and illness report form in Para sport, adapted from the IOC consensus statement and SRIIPSS, is provided in Appendix 2. [12, 13,16,44,45] eHealth based self-report data collection may be especially beneficial, as it can empower health efficiency and autonomy for persons with an impairment due to more accessible opportunities for communicating health parameters. [44] Digital data collection of other health parameters, such as heart rate and energy expenditure, could also be a feasible method among Para athletes due to a large variation in physiology and training.…”

Section: Data Collection Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Para sport translation of the IOC consensus on recording and reporting of data for injury and illness in sport

et al. 2021

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In 2020, the IOC proposed a universal methodology for the recording and reporting of data for injury and illness in sport. Para sport is played by individuals with impairment, and they have a unique set of considerations not captured by these recommendations. Therefore, the aim of this addendum to IOC consensus statement was to guide the Para sport researcher through the complexities and nuances that should be taken into consideration when collecting, registering, reporting and interpreting data regarding Para athlete health. To develop this translation, experts in the field of Para sports medicine and epidemiology conducted a formal consensus development process, which began in March 2020 with the formation of a consensus group that worked over eight phases, incorporating three virtual consensus meetings to finalise the translation. This translation is consistent with the IOC consensus statement, yet provides more detailed Para athlete specific definitions and recommendations on study population, specifically, diagnostic and eligible impairment categorisation and recording of adaptive equipment, and defining and classifying health problems in the context of Para sport. Additionally, recommendations and Para athlete specific examples are described with regards to injury mechanism, mode of onset, injury and illness classification, duration, capturing and reporting exposure and risk. Finally, methods and considerations are provided to cater to the varied needs of athletes with impairment with respect to data collection tools. This harmonisation will allow the science to develop and facilitate a more accurate understanding of injury and illness patterns for tailoring evidence-informed prevention programmes and enabling better planning of medical services for Para sport events.

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Section: Data Collection Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Para sport translation of the IOC consensus on recording and reporting of data for injury and illness in sport

et al. 2021

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“…For para athletes with visual impairment, many signs and symptoms that clinicians monitor during the RTS process (eg, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, poor balance) may be preexisting. 21 Care is needed when distinguishing symptoms elicited during the RTS process from baseline values in this cohort, and it is incumbent on the evaluating clinician to specifically ask about 'change from normal' as opposed to the presence of a symptom. Para athletes with intellectual impairment may have difficulty in understanding the progression and pacing of the different stages in RTS following concussion and are likely to need closer supervision at all stages of the RTS process.…”

Section: Implications For Rts Following Concussion In Specific Para Athlete Cohortsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concussion in para sport: the first position statement of the Concussion in Para Sport (CIPS) Group

et al. 2021

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Concussion is a frequent injury in many sports and is also common in para athletes. However, there is a paucity of concussion research related to para sport, and prior International Concussion in Sport (CIS) consensus papers have not substantively addressed this population. To remedy this and to improve concussion care provided to para athletes, the concussion in para sport (CIPS) multidisciplinary expert group was created. This group analysed and discussed in-depth para athlete-specific issues within the established key clinical domains of the current (2017) consensus statement on CIS. Due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group held all meetings by video conferencing. The existing Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 (SCAT5) for the immediate on-field and office-based off-field assessment of concussion was evaluated as part of this process, to identify any para athlete-specific concerns. Regular preparticipation and periodic health examinations are essential to determine a baseline reference point for concussion symptoms but pose additional challenges for the interpreting clinician. Further considerations for concussion management for the para athlete are required within the remove, rest, reconsider and refer consensus statement framework. Considering return to sport (RTS), the 2017 CIS consensus statement has limitations when considering the RTS of the para athlete. Case-by-case decision making related to RTS following concussion is imperative for para athletes. Additional challenges exist for the evaluation and management of concussion in para athletes. There is a need for greater understanding of existing knowledge gaps and attitudes towards concussion among athlete medical staff, coaches and para athletes. Future research should investigate the use and performance of common assessment tools in the para athlete population to better guide their clinical application and inform potential modifications. Concussion prevention strategies and sport-specific rule changes, such as in Para Alpine Skiing and Cerebral Palsy Football, also should be carefully considered to reduce the occurrence of concussion in para athletes.

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“…In a recent study, we showed that 83% of the Paralympic athletes continued to train unwell and 77% felt guilt when missing training. 3 It could be T A B L E 3 Simple and multiple models of risk factors for injury and illness determined by time-to-event analyses (Cox proportional hazard regression models presented with hazard ratios (HR), p-values and 95% confidence intervals (CI)). Simple models show risks associated with variables separately.…”

Section: Sports-related Illnessesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Injuries and illnesses in Swedish Paralympic athletes—A 52‐week prospective study of incidence and risk factors

Fagher

Dahlström

Jacobsson

et al. 2020

Scandinavian Med Sci Sports

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Introduction Sports‐related injuries and illnesses in Paralympic sport (SRIIPS) are a concern, but knowledge about the etiology and risk factors is limited. The aim of this study was to describe the annual incidence, type, and severity of injuries and illnesses among Swedish Paralympic athletes and to assess risk factors. Methods Swedish Paralympic athletes (n = 107) self‐reported SRIIPS every week during 52 weeks using an eHealth application. Incidence proportions (IP) and incidence rates (IR) were used as measures of disease burden. Time‐to‐event methods (Kaplan‐Meier and Cox regression) were used to identify risk factors. Results The annual IP for injury was 68% and for illness 77%. The injury IR was 6.9/1000 hours and the illness IR 9.3/1000 hours. The median time to injury was 19 weeks (95% CI: 10.5‐27.4) and to illness 9 weeks (95% CI: 1.4‐16.6). Most injuries occurred during training, and 34% were classified as severe (≥21 days of time loss). An increased injury risk was observed among athletes in team sports (HR 1.88; 95% CI: 1.19‐2.99), athletes with a previous severe injury (HR 2.37; 95% CI: 1.47‐3.83), and male athletes (HR 1.76; 95% CI: 1.06‐2.93). The most common illness type was infection (84%). Athletes in team sports (HR 1.64; 95% CI: 1.05‐2.54) and males with a previous illness (HR = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.04‐4.36) had a higher illness risk. Conclusion Paralympic athletes report a high incidence of injuries and illnesses over time. This emphasizes the need to develop preventive strategies of SRIIPS and optimize medical services for this heterogeneous athlete population.

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Prevalence of Sports‐Related Injuries and Illnesses in Paralympic Athletes

Cited by 51 publications

References 43 publications

Para sport translation of the IOC consensus on recording and reporting of data for injury and illness in sport

Para sport translation of the IOC consensus on recording and reporting of data for injury and illness in sport

Concussion in para sport: the first position statement of the Concussion in Para Sport (CIPS) Group

Injuries and illnesses in Swedish Paralympic athletes—A 52‐week prospective study of incidence and risk factors

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