Sports injuries surveillance during the 2007 IAAF World Athletics Championships.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyze all sports injuries incurred in competitions and/or training during the 2007 World Athletics Championships and to prove the feasibility of the injury surveillance system developed for the 2008 Olympic Games for individual sports.


METHODS
Prospective recording of injuries.


METHODS
11 IAAF World Championships in Athletics 2007 in Osaka, Japan.


METHODS
All national team physicians and physiotherapists; Local Organising Committee (LOC) physicians working in the Medical Centres at the stadium and warm-up area.


METHODS
Frequency, characteristics, and incidence of injuries.


RESULTS
192 injuries were reported, resulting in an incidence of 97 injuries per 1000 registered athletes. More than half of the injuries (56%) were expected to prevent the athlete from participating in competition or training. Eighty percent affected the lower extremity; the most common diagnosis was thigh strain (16%). In most cases, the injury was caused by overuse (44%). A quarter of the injuries were incurred during training and 137 (71%) in competition. On average, 72.4 injuries per 1000 competing athletes were incurred in competitions. The incidence of injury varied substantially among the disciplines. The risk of a time-loss injury was highest in heptathlon, women's 10,000 m, women's 3000 m steeplechase, decathlon, and men's marathon.


CONCLUSIONS
The injury surveillance system proved feasible for individual sports. Risk of injury varied among the disciplines, with highest risk in combined disciplines, steeplechase, and long-distance runs. Preventive interventions should mainly focus on overuse injuries and adequate rehabilitation of previous injuries.
Alonso
Juan Manuel
JM
Real Federación Española de Atletismo, Servicios Médicos, Madrid, Spain. dir.medico@rfea.es
Junge
Astrid
A
Renström
Per
P
Engebretsen
Lars
L
Mountjoy
Margo
M
Dvorak
Jiri
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000846:Anniversaries and Special Events; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult