The 2004 Olympic Games: physiotherapy services in the Olympic Village polyclinic.
OBJECTIVE
First, to document the injuries sustained during the 2004 Olympic Games in a sample of patients visiting the physiotherapy department of the Olympic Village polyclinic. Second, to provide information and data about the physiotherapy services for planning future Olympics and other mass gatherings.


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
Olympic Village polyclinic.


METHODS
457 patients aged 15-72 years visited the physiotherapy department from 30 July through 30 August.


RESULTS
The department's workload was at a peak during the last 15 days of the Olympic Games (periods B and C). The most common injuries were overuse injuries (47.3%). The most common pathology for physiotherapy attendance was myofascial pain/muscle spasm (32.5%), followed by tendinopathy (19.2%) and ligament sprain (18.7%). The most prevalent site of injury was the thigh (21%), followed by the knee (14.1%) and the lumbar spine (13.5%). Most injuries had symptoms of <7 days' duration. The geographical region with the greatest demand for physiotherapy services was Africa (40.6%). Most patients were athletes (74.8%), although team officials accounted for a considerable number (14%).


CONCLUSIONS
The smallest national teams--especially those from developing countries--were more likely to take advantage of services, probably because the larger teams had their own medical and physiotherapy staff. The characteristics of patients, their sustained injuries and the subsequent treatment varied by the accreditation status of the patients. The physiotherapy department's workload was dependent on the Olympic Games schedule.
Athanasopoulos
Spyridon
S
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Science, Greece.
Kapreli
Eleni
E
Tsakoniti
Aikaterini
A
Karatsolis
Konstantinos
K
Diamantopoulos
Konstantinos
K
Kalampakas
Konstantinos
K
Pyrros
Demetrios G
DG
Parisis
Costas
C
Strimpakos
Nikolaos
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013177:Sports