title: Analyses of Helsinki 2012 European Athletics Championships injury and illness surveillance to discuss elite athletes risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To further analyze newly incurred injuries and illnesses (I&Is) during Athletics International Championships to discuss risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective recording of newly occurred injuries and illnesses.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 2012 European Athletics (EA) Championships in Helsinki, Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  National team and local organizing committee physicians and physiotherapists and 1342 registered athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Incidence and characteristics of new injuries and illnesses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-three percent of athletes were covered by medical teams, with a response rate of 91%. One hundred thirty-three injuries were reported (incidence of 98.4 injuries per 1000 registered athletes). Sixty-two injuries (47%) resulted in time loss from sport. The most common diagnosis was hamstring strain (11.4% of injuries and 21% of time-loss injuries). Injury risk was higher in males and increased with age. The highest incidences of injuries were found in combined events and middle- and long-distance events. Twenty-seven illnesses were reported (4.0 illnesses per 1000 athlete days). The most common diagnoses were upper respiratory tract infection (33.3%) and gastroenteritis/diarrhea (25.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During outdoor EA Championships, injury and illness incidences were slightly lower and injury characteristics were comparable with those during outdoor World Athletics Championships. During elite athletics Championships, gender (male), age (older than 30 years), finals, and some events (combined events and middle- and long-distance races) seem to be injury risk factors. Illness risk factors remain unclear. As in previous recommendations, preventive interventions should focus on overuse injuries, hamstring strains, and adequate rehabilitation of previous injuries, decreasing risk of infectious diseases transmission, appropriate event scheduling, sports clothes, and heat acclimatization.
authors: *Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, Sports Medicine Unity, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France; †Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, University of Lyon, Saint Etienne, France; ‡Medical Commission, French Athletics Federation, Paris, France; §Department of Functional Physiology Explorations and Sports Medicine, Larrey Hospital, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France; ¶European Athletics Medical and Anti Doping Commission, European Athletics Association, Lausanne, Switzerland; ‖Portuguese Athletic Federation, Medical Department, Linda-a-avelha, Portugal; **International Association of Athletics Federations, Medical and Anti-doping Commission, Monaco, Monaco; and ††Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (Real Federación Española de Atletismo), Madrid, Spain.
authors: Pascal
authors: P
authors: Edouard
authors: Frédéric
authors: F
authors: Depiesse
authors: Pedro
authors: P
authors: Branco
authors: Juan-Manuel
authors: JM
authors: Alonso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014142:Track and Field / Q000293:injuries*; D055815:Young Adult