title: Illness and injury in athletes during the competition period at the London 2012 Paralympic Games: development and implementation of a web-based surveillance system (WEB-IISS) for team medical staff.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study we describe (1) the implementation of a novel web-based injury and illness surveillance system (WEB-IISS) for use by a team of physicians at multisport events and (2) the incidence and characteristics of injuries and illness in athletes during the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
  
  
  METHODS
  Overall, 3565 athletes from 160 of the 164 participating countries were followed daily over a 14-day period, consisting of a precompetition period (3 days), and a competition period (11 days) (49 910 athlete-days). Daily injury and illness data were obtained from teams with their own medical support (78 teams, 3329 athletes) via the WEB-IISS, and without their own medical support through the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games database (82 teams and 236 athletes).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences between incidence rates (IR) of injury and illness, or between the precompetition and competition periods. The IR of injury during the competition period was 12.1/1000 athlete-days, with an incidence proportion (IP) of 11.6% (95% CI 11.0% to 13.3%). Upper limb injuries (35%), particularly of the shoulder (17%) were most common. The IR of illness during the competition period was 12.8/1000 athlete-days (95% CI 12.18 to 1421), with an IP of 10.2%. The IP was highest in the respiratory system (27.4%), skin (18.3%) and the gastrointestinal (14.5%) systems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During the competition period, the IR and IP of illness and injury at the Games were similar and comparable to the observed rates in other elite competitions. In Paralympic athletes, the IP of upper limb injuries is higher than that of lower limb injuries and non-respiratory illnesses are more common.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. ewderman@iafrica.com
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Derman
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwellnus
authors.forename: Esme
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jordaan
authors.forename: Cheri A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Blauwet
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Emery
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pit-Grosheide
authors.forename: Norma-Angelica Patino
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Oriol
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Martinez-Ferrer
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stomphorst
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van de Vliet
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Webborn
authors.forename: Stuart E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Willick
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D000846:Anniversaries and Special Events; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003625:Data Collection; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D020407:Internet; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D062486:Public Health Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009626:Terminology as Topic