Citation

Edouard P, Samozino P, Escudier G, Baldini A, Morin J. Br. J. Sports Med. 2014; 48(7): 589-590.

Affiliation

Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, Sports Medicine Unity, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bjsports-2014-093494.81

PMID

24620122

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In International Association of Athletics Federation and European Athletics competitions, higher injury incidences were reported for athletes participating in combined events. OBJECTIVE: To record and analyze the incidence and characteristics of injuries incurred during Youth and National combined events Championships. DESIGN: Prospective recording of newly occurred injuries. SETTING: French Athletics Combined Events Championships in Athletics 2010 in Saint-Etienne, France. PARTICIPANTS: Local Organising Committee (LOC) physicians and physiotherapists working in the Medical Centres at the stadium. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence and characteristics of newly occurred injuries. RESULTS: A total of 51 injuries and 9 time-loss injuries were recorded among 107 registered athletes, corresponding in an incidence of 477 injuries and 84 time-loss injuries per 1000 registered athletes. 72.5% of injuries affected lower limbs. The most common diagnosis was thigh strain (17.6%), followed by trunk muscle cramps (11.8%), knee tendinopathy (9.8%), and ankle sprain (9.8%). Overuse injuries were the most common injury cause (60.8%), either with gradual (33.3%) and sudden onset (27.5%), followed by non-contact trauma (31.4%). Among the 14 dropouts recorded, about two third were caused by an injury (57.1%). CONCLUSIONS: During combined events championships at the youth and national, over one third of the registered athletes incurred an injury. This represented a higher injury incidence than during international elite athletics competitions. Moreover, these injuries concerned a younger population and affecting immature musculoskeletal structures. In combined events, preventive interventions should mainly focus on overuse and thigh injuries.

Language: en