title: The epidemiology of injuries in powerlifting at the London 2012 Paralympic Games: An analysis of 1411 athlete-days.
abstract: Sport injury epidemiology has received increased recognition as a field of sport medicine research that can improve the health and safety of athletes. Injuries among Paralympic powerlifters have not previously been systematically studied. The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to characterize injuries among Paralympic powerlifters. Athletes competing in the sport of powerlifting were followed over the 7-day competition period of the 2012 London Paralympic Games. The main outcome measurements were injury incidence rate (IR; number of injuries per 1000 athlete-days) and injury incidence proportion (IP; injuries per 100 athletes). A total of 38 injuries among 163 powerlifters were documented. The overall IR was 33.3 injuries/1000 athlete-days (95% CI 24.0-42.6) and the overall IP was 23.3 injuries per 100 athletes (95% CI 16.8-29.8). The majority of injuries were chronic overuse injuries (61%). The most commonly injured anatomical region was the shoulder/clavicle (32% of all injuries), followed by the chest (13%) and elbow (13%). The information obtained in this study opens the door for future study into the mechanisms and details of injuries into powerlifters with physical impairments.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Utah Orthopaedic Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Willick
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Utah Orthopaedic Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. dan.cushman.work@gmail.com.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Cushman
authors.affiliation: Medical Committee, International Paralympic Committee, Bonn, Germany.|Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Blauwet
authors.affiliation: Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, University of Calgary, Edmonton, Canada.|International Olympic Committee (IOC) Research Centre, Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Emery
authors.affiliation: Medical Committee, International Paralympic Committee, Bonn, Germany.|School of Sport and Service Management, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Webborn
authors.affiliation: Medical Committee, International Paralympic Committee, Bonn, Germany.|Institute for Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.|International Olympic Committee (IOC) Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Derman
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.|International Olympic Committee (IOC) Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa.|Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwellnus
authors.affiliation: Medical Committee, International Paralympic Committee, Bonn, Germany.|Sports Medicine Department, Isala Klinieken, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stomphorst
authors.affiliation: Health Leisure and Human Performance Research Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van de Vliet
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000846:Anniversaries and Special Events; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D064846:Sports for Persons with Disabilities; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000293:injuries*; D055815:Young Adult; D000092464:Elbow Injuries
keywords: Bench press; disability; elite athlete; impairment; injury; international sport; power lifting; prevention; weightlifting