Journal List > Korean J Sports Med > v.36(3) > 1100784

Jeong, Lee, Kim, Jeong, Lee, Kim, and Kim: Injuries and Illnesses of Korean Athletes during the Almaty Winter Universiade Games 2017

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to describe the pattern of injuries and illnesses among Korean athletes during the Almaty Winter Universiade 2017.

Methods

All medical staffs of Korean team recorded the daily occurrence of injuries and illnesses sustained during the Almaty Winter Universiade Games by using a standardized online form via kociss.com. The design of this study was a prospective study.

Results

In total, 98 athletes (68 men and 30 women) in 11 sports events from Korean Sport Olympic Committee participated in this study. Korean medical staffs reported 40 injuries (40.8%) and 26 illnesses (26.5%), equaling incidences of 6.3 injuries and 4.1 illnesses per 100 athletes. Men suffered more injury and illness than women (44.1% vs. 33.3%). The rate of Injury and illness in training was higher than the competition (13.3 vs. 2.0 athlete exposures). The risk of an athlete being injured was the highest in freestyle skiing, followed by snowboard and speed skating. Overall, the main common type and location of injury was the joint or ligaments sprain (13.3%) and knee (7.1%). The rate of main illness was 17.3% of the respiratory system with the main symptom of pain and the main cause of environment (22.4%).

Conclusion

Injuries and illnesses occurred 40.8% and 26.5% during this winter game, and were higher during training than a competition. Based on the epidemiologic data of this study, it could provide the source for the injury prevention and improving the performance of the athlete and further develop scientific injury and illness surveillance systems.

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Table 1.
Demographic characteristics of Korean athletes participating in the Almaty Winter Universiade 2017
Variable Men Women Total
Athlete 68 (69.4) 30 (30.6) 98 (100)
Age 23.1±1.7 21.9±1.2 22.8±1.6
Sport division
  Alpine skiing 6 (6.1) 5 (5.1) 11 (11.2)
  Biathlon 2 (2.0) 0 2 (2.0)
  Cross-country skiing 5 (5.1) 5 (5.1) 10 (10.2)
  Curling 5 (5.1) 4 (4.1) 9 (9.2)
  Figure skating 3 (3.1) 2 (2) 5 (5.1)
  Freestyle skiing 4 (4.1) 0 4 (4.1)
  Ice hockey 20 (20.4) 0 20 (20.4)
  Short track 5 (5.1) 5 (5.1) 10 (10.2)
  speed skating
  Ski jumping 2 (2.0) 0 2 (2.0)
  Snowboard 8 (8.2) 2 (2.0) 10 (10.2)
  Speed skating 8 (8.2) 7 (7.1) 15 (15.3)

Values are presented as number (%) or mean±standard deviation.

Table 2.
Rate of injuries and illnesses of Korean athletes incurred during the Almaty Winter Universiade 2017
Variable Injury Illness
Men Women Total Men Women Total
Injury (n) 30 10 40 19 7 26
Injury rate (%) 44.1 33.3 40.8 27.9 23.3 26.5
Overall/100 AEs 6.9 5.0 6.3 4.4 3.5 4.1
Competition/100 AEs 2.5 0.8 2.0 0.0 0.8 0.2
Practice/100 AEs 13.5 12.9 13.3 12.3 8.6 11.1
Injuries, OR (95% CI) 1.58 (0.64−3.87) Reference 1 1.27 (0.47−3.46) Reference

AEs: athlete exposure, OR: odds ratio, 95% CI: 95% confidence interval.

Table 3.
Comparison of all sports injuries and illnesses of Korean athletes incurred during the Almaty Winter Universiade 2017
Sports events Participant per event (n) No. (% of athletes) No. (100 AEs, 95% CI) Total
Men Women n Total Injury Illness Men Women Total Competition Training No. (100 AEs)
Alpine skiing 6 5 11 7 (63.6) 1 (9.1) 5 (83.3) 3 (60.0) 8 (72.7) 7 (13.7, 3.56 to 23.89) 1 (4.5, −4.36 to 13.45) 8 (11.0)
Cross-country skiing 5 5 10 0 13 (130.0) ) 10 (200.0) 3 (60.0) 13 (130.0) 0 13 (43.3, 19.78 to 66.89) 13 (20.3)
Curling 5 4 9 0 2 (22.0) 0 2 (50.0) 2 (22.0) 0 2 (11.1, −4.28 to 26.51) 2 (2.1)
Freestyle skiing 2 2 4 8 (200.0) 0 8 (200.0) 0 8 (200.0) 4 (66.7, 1.33 to 132) 4 (33.3, 0.67 to 66.00) 8 (44.4)
Ice hockey 20 0 20 8 (40.0) 4 (20.0) 12 (60.0) 0 12 (60.0) 8 (8.0, 2.46 to 13.54) 4 (10.0, 0.20 to 19.80) 12 (8.6)
Snowboard 8 2 10 7 (70.0) 0 5 (62.5) 2 (100.0) 7 (70.0) 0 7 (35.0, 9.07 to 60.93) 7 (16.3)
Speed skating 8 7 15 10 (66.7) 6 (40.0) 9 (112.5) 7 (100.0) 16 (106.7) 1 (2.3, −2.18 to 6.72) 15 (33.3, 16.46 to 50.20) 16 (18.0)
Total 40 (40.8) 26 (26.5) 49 (72.1) 17 (56.7) 66 (67.3) 20 (5.1, 2.87 to 7.36) 46 (19.2, 13.63 to 24.71) 66 (10.5)

AEs: athlete exposure, 95% CI: 95% confidence interval.

Table 4.
Injury site and mechanism in relation to injury type of Korean athletes incurred during the Almaty Winter Universiade 2017
Injury type  No. of injuries (% of athletes) 
Men Injury site (#mechanism) Women Injury site (#mechanism) Total Injury site (#mechanism)
Dislocation, subluxation 2 (2.9) Shoulder (1 NC), face (1 C) 0   2 (2.0) Shoulder (1 NC), face (1 C)
Ligamentous rupture 2 (2.9) Knee (1 C,1 R) 1 (3.3) Ankle (1 R) 3 (3.1) Knee (1 C,1 R), ankle (1 R)
Sprain (joint or ligaments) 9 (13.2) Lumbar spine (5 R), elbow 4 (13.3) Lumbar spine (2 R), 13 (13.3) lumbar spine (7 R), elbow (2 R,1 C),
(2 R,1 C), ankle (1 NC) knee (2 R), ankle (1 R) knee (2 R), ankle (1 NC,1 R)
Lesion of meniscus or cartilage 1 (1.5) Knee (1 R) 1 (3.3) Knee (1 R) 2 (2.0) Knee (2 R)
Strain/muscle rupture/tear 3 (4.4) Thigh (2 OU), lumbar spine 0   3 (3.1) Thigh (2 OU), lumbar spine (1 OU)
(1 OU)
Contusion/hematoma/bruise 4 (5.9) Shoulder (1 NC), thigh (1 C) ), 1 (3.3) Finger (1 C) 5 (5.1) Shoulder (1 NC), thigh (1 C), knee
knee (1 NC), lower leg (1 C C) (1 NC), lower leg (1 C), finger (1 C)
Tendinosis/tendinopathy 3 (4.4) Shoulder (1 R), lower leg 2 (6.7) Elbow (1 OU), lower 5 (5.1) Shoulder (1 R), elbow (1 OU),
(1 OU), foot (1 R) leg (1 OU) lower leg (2 OU), foot (1 R)
Arthritis/synovitis/bursitis 1 (1.5) Shoulder (1 OU) 0   1 (1.0) Shoulder (1 OU)
Fasciitis/aponeurosis injury 1 (1.5) Lower leg (1 OU) 0   1 (1.0) lower leg (1 OU)
Laceration/abrasion/skin lesion 2 (2.9) Finger (1 C), foot (1 OU) 0   2 (2.0) Finger (1 C), foot (1 OU)
Muscle cramps or spasm 2 (2.9) Hip (1 R), thigh (1 OU) 0   2 (2.0) Hip (1 R), thigh (1 OU)
Total 30 (44.1)   9 (30.0)   39 (39.8)  

NC: non-contact, C: contact, R: recurrence of previous injury, OU: overuse.

Table 5.
Characteristics of illnesses in Korean athletes incurred during the Almaty Winter Universiade 2017
Variable No. of illnesses (% of athletes)
Men Women Total
Affected system
  Respiratory 13 (19.1) 4 (13.3) 17 (17.3)
    (ear, nose, throat)
  Gastrointestinal 3 (4.4) 0 3 (3.1)
  Urogenital/ 0 1 (3.3) 1 (1.0)
    gynaecological
  Allergic/ 1 (1.5) 0 1 (1.0)
    immunological
  Neurological/ 0 1 (3.3) 1 (1.0)
    psychiatric
  Musculoskeletal 2 (2.9) 0 2 (2.0)
  Other 0 1 (3.3) 1 (1.0)
  Total 19 (27.9) 7 (23.3) 26 (26.5)
Main symptom
  Fever 2 (2.9) 1 (3.3) 3 (3.1)
  Pain 12 (17.6) 5 (16.7) 17 (17.3)
  Diarrhea, vomiting 3 (4.4) 0 3 (3.1)
  Dyspnea, cough 7 (10.3) 2 (6.7) 9 (9.2)
  Hyperthermia 0 1 (3.3) 1 (1.0)
  Lethargy, dizziness 0 1 (3.3) 1 (1.0)
  Other 4 (5.9) 0 4 (4.1)
  Total 28 (41.2) 10 (33.3) 38 (38.8)
Cause of illness
  Environmental 16 (23.5) 6 (20.0) 22 (22.4)
  Other 5 (7.4) 2 (6.7) 7 (7.1)
  Total 21 (30.9) 8 (26.7) 29 (29.6)
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