Injury and illness surveillance in sports: how golf, tennis, cycling and parasport extended the IOC consensus statement to tailor injury and illness surveillance to specific sports

A prospective study of injuries and illnesses among 910 amateur golfers during one season

ABSTRACT

Objectives

Our aims were (a) to describe the prevalence and incidence of self-reported injuries and illnesses of amateur golfers over a 5-month period and (b) to investigate potential risk factors for injury.

Methods

We recruited 910 amateur golfers (733 males [81%] and 177 females [19%]) from golf clubs in the USA and Switzerland. The median age was 60 (IQR: 47-67) and the median golfing handicap was 12 (IQR: 6-18). Participants' health was monitored weekly for 5 months using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire on Health Problems. Players also completed a baseline questionnaire on personal and golf-specific characteristics and their medical history.

Results

We distributed 19 406 questionnaires and received 11 180 responses (57.6%). The prevalence of injuries was 11.3% (95% CI: 9.8 to 12.8) and of illnesses was 2% (95% CI 1.7 to 2.2). The incidence of injuries and illnesses was 3.79 (95% CI 3.54 to 4.06) and 0.94 (95% CI 0.81 to 1.07) per golfer per year, respectively. The injury regions with the highest burden of injury (time-loss days per player per year) were lumbosacral spine (5.93), shoulder (3.47) and knee (2.08). Injury risk was higher with increased age, osteoarthritis and previous injury.

Conclusion

The prevalence and incidence of injury and illness in amateur golf were low compared with many other sports. To further reduce the burden of injury, future research attention should be directed towards the lumbosacral spine, knee and shoulder.

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Pain in Amateur Golfers in the State of São Paulo: A Cross-sectional Study

Objective  To verify the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in amateur golfers in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Methods  The present is a cross-sectional study performed from September 2019 to March 2020 in golf clubs affiliated to Federação Paulista de Golfe (São Paulo Golf Federation). Federation players were evaluated regarding data on golf practice and sport routine by a main investigator, though an assessment form with multiple-choice questions, to determine sample characteristics and recent pain intensity by the Visual Analogue Scale. Results  Approximately 359 amateur golfers were analyzed. The prevalence of pain was of 55.15% (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 50.0% to 60.3%); the average pain intensity according to the VAS was moderate (mean ± standard deviation: 5.21 ± 2.04; odds ration [OR]: 47,98%). The golfer's age range was significantly associated with the presence of pain ( p  < 0.05). The highest prevalence estimate of pain was of 68.80% in the age group between 30 and 39 years (OR: 7,33; 95%CI: 2,26 to 23,85; p  = 0,0009). The segments most affected by pain were the upper limbs (65.66%), followed by the spine (59.09%) and the lower limbs (32.83%). Conclusion  There is a high prevalence rate of pain in Brazilian amateur golfers, especially in younger players in the age group between 30 and 39 years.

Year-round longitudinal health surveillance in UK Olympic Summer Sport Athletes 2016-2019

OBJECTIVES

To identify the priority injury and illness types across UK summer Olympic World Class Programme sports to inform development, implementation and evaluation of associated injury risk mitigation and management initiatives.

METHODS

Four years (2016-2019) of electronic medical records of 1247 athletes from 22 sports were analysed and reported using methods based on the 2020 International Olympic Committee consensus statement for epidemiological recording and reporting.

RESULTS

3562 injuries and 1218 illness were recorded, accounting for 146 156 and 27 442 time-loss days. Overall, 814 (65%) athletes reported at least one injury, while 517 (41%) reported at least one illness. There were 1.3 injuries per athlete year resulting in a mean burden of 54.1 days per athlete year. The lumbar/pelvis, knee, ankle and shoulder body regions had the highest incidence and burden. Athletes reported 0.5 illnesses per athlete year, resulting in a mean burden of 10.4 days per athlete year, with most composed of respiratory illness and gastroenteritis. Injuries within sport groups were representative of the injury risk profile for those sports (eg, knee, hand and head injuries had the highest incidence in combat sports), but respiratory illnesses were consistently the greatest problem for each sport group.

CONCLUSIONS

To optimise availability for training and performance, systematic risk mitigation and management initiatives should target priority injury problems occurring in the lumbar/pelvis, knee, ankle and shoulder, and respiratory illness. Follow-up analysis should include identification of sport-specific priority health problems and associated risk factors.

Cross-sectional study of characteristics and prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints in 1170 male golfers

Objectives

The primary aim was to describe the characteristics and prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints of a large group of non-professional golfers. Secondary aims were to compare golfers different in (A) skill-level, (B) presence of low back pain (LBP) and (C) performance of prevention exercises.

Methods

A sample of 1170 male golfers (mean age 54.98, SD=13.3) were surveyed online on personal and golf-specific characteristics, medical history and complaints in the preceding 7 days. Subgroups (A) with different golfing handicap (0 to 5, >5 to 10, >10), (B) with and without LBP and (C) who performed versus did not perform injury prevention exercises were compared using analysis of variance and χ2test.

Results

The prevalence and severity of musculoskeletal complaints was similar in everyday life and when playing golf. More than one-third of the golfers (n=436; 37.3%) reported LBP in the preceding 7 days, while other frequently affected body parts were the shoulder and knee. Golfers with different skill level differed in age and most golf-related characteristics but not in prevalence and severity of musculoskeletal complaints. Golfers with and without LBP were similar in almost all variables. Golfers who performed prevention exercises (n=371; 27.1%) were older and had a higher prevalence of complaints.

Conclusion

The prevalence and severity of musculoskeletal complaints in golfers were similar to the wider population. It seems that injury prevention exercises were implemented after injury, rather than as primary prevention. Prospective studies looking at the epidemiology of injury, risk factors and interventions are required.

Injury Surveillance and Training Load Methods Used by Health Professionals in Tennis: An Online Multinational Survey

CONTEXT

Injury surveillance and training load monitoring are both essential for the development of preventative strategies for gradual-onset musculoskeletal injuries in elite sport. Our aim was to survey health professionals working with elite tennis players on whether and how they monitor injuries and training load.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional multinational online open-survey.

METHODS

The survey was developed and advertised in English, Spanish, and Portuguese languages on social media channels, a tennis academic journal, professional tennis associations, and clinical networks of the research team, from December 2020 to April 2021.

RESULTS

72 health professionals from 27 different countries working with elite tennis players responded to the survey. Injury surveillance is performed by 94% (68/72) of the survey respondents, with only 10% (7/68) using the consensus-recommended Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center questionnaire. Most common barriers identified by health professionals to injury surveillance are time constraints (66%), lack of knowledge (43%), and technology (31%). Training load monitoring is performed by 50% (36/72) of the health professionals working with elite tennis players. Main metrics monitored are weekly differences in training load (72%) and acute:chronic workload ratio (58%). Most common reasons for training load monitoring are injury prevention (94%), training planning (81%), and player feedback (53%).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a high percentage of health professionals implementing injury surveillance metrics, most of them do not use any validated method. Only half of health professionals working with elite tennis players monitor training load. Lack of knowledge and technology were the main barriers reported for adequately monitoring injuries.

CHARACTERISTICS AND PREVENTION OF SPORTS INJURIES IN ADOLESCENT SOCCER

ABSTRACT Introduction: This year is the year of the soccer World Cup. With the adult team unable to participate in the World Cup, society's attention has turned to college soccer. However, as a highly aggressive sport, soccer will inevitably cause various sports injuries. Objective: Investigate the causes and characteristics of sports injuries of young school soccer players in some areas of China, and propose measures to prevent and control sports injuries. Methods: A total of 1024 adolescents aged 6 to 17 years were research volunteers; the causes and characteristics of sports injuries of these young college soccer players were investigated through field investigation, questionnaire survey, expert interview, and mathematical analysis. Results: The results of the survey show that 73.2% (750 people) of the respondents have suffered sports injuries, among which the common injuries in elementary school (6-12 years old) are knee and upper limb joints, and the common injuries in middle school (12-17 years old) are mainly ankle and knee joints, with the same characteristics as adult players. The degree of injury in different segments is the same, with mild injuries being the most common, followed by moderate and severe. As the learning period increased, the mild injuries decreased significantly, while the moderate and severe injuries showed an increasing trend. Most injuries occurred in the summer, with the injury rate during training significantly higher than during competition. The causes of injuries are different in different age groups. Conclusion: Young school soccer players are prone to sports injuries in the sporting process, and specific preventive measures are needed to prevent these injuries from causing adverse effects on young players. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.