Epidemiology of injury and illness in 153 Australian international-level rowers over eight international seasons
- Authors: Trease, Larissa , Wilkie, Kellie , Lovell, Greg , Drew, Michael , Hooper, Ivan
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 54, no. 21 (2020), p. 1288-1293
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- Description: Aim To report the epidemiology of injury and illness in elite rowers over eight seasons (two Olympiads). Methods All athletes selected to the Australian Rowing Team between 2009 and 2016 were monitored prospectively under surveillance for injury and illness. The incidence and burden of injury and illness were calculated per 1000 athlete days (ADs). The body area, mechanism and type of all injuries were recorded and followed until the resumption of full training. We used interrupted time series analyses to examine the association between fixed and dynamic ergometer testing on rowers' injury rates. Time lost from illness was also recorded. Results All 153 rowers selected over eight seasons were observed for 48 611 AD. 270 injuries occurred with an incidence of 4.1-6.4 injuries per 1000 AD. Training days lost totalled 4522 (9.2% AD). The most frequent area injured was the lumbar region (84 cases, 1.7% AD) but the greatest burden was from chest wall injuries (64 cases, 2.6% AD.) Overuse injuries (n=224, 83%) were more frequent than acute injuries (n=42, 15%). The most common activity at the time of injury was on-water rowing training (n=191, 68). Female rowers were at 1.4 times the relative risk of chest wall injuries than male rowers; they had half the relative risk of lumbar injuries of male rowers. The implementation of a dynamic ergometers testing policy (Concept II on sliders) was positively associated with a lower incidence and burden of low back injury compared with fixed ergometers (Concept II). Illness accounted for the greatest number of case presentations (128, 32.2% cases, 1.2% AD). Conclusions Chest wall and lumbar injuries caused training time loss. Policy decisions regarding ergometer testing modality were associated with lumbar injury rates. As in many sports, illness burden has been under-recognised in elite Australian rowers. ©
Rib stress injuries in the 2012-2016 (Rio) Olympiad : a cohort study of 151 Australian rowing team athletes for 88 773 athlete days
- Authors: Harris, Rachel , Trease, Larissa , Wilkie, Kellie , Drew, Michael
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 54, no. 16 (2020), p. 991-996
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Aim To describe the demographics, frequency, location, imaging modality and clinician-identified factors of rib stress injury in a cohort of elite rowers over the Rio Olympiad (2012-2016). Methods Analysis of prospectively recorded medical records for the Australian Rowing Team in 2013-2015 and the combined Australian Rowing Team and Olympic Shadow Squad in 2016, examining all rib stress injuries. Results 19 rib stress injuries (12 reactions and 7 fractures) were identified among a cohort of 151 athletes and included 12 female and 7 male cases, 11 open weight, 8 lightweight, 12 scull and 7 sweep cases. The most common locations of injury identified by imaging, were the mid-axillary line and rib 6. Period prevalence varied from 4 to 15.4 and incidence ranged from 0.27 to 0.13 per 1000 athlete days. There were no significant differences in prevalence by sex, sweep versus scull or weight class. There was a statistically significant increase in incidence in the pre-Olympic year (2015, p<0.001). MRI was the most commonly used modality for diagnosis. Stress fracture resulted in median 69 (IQR 56-157) and bone stress reaction resulted in 57 (IQR 45-78) days lost to full on water training. Conclusions In our 4-year report of rib stress injury in elite rowing athletes, period prevalence was consistent with previous reports and time lost (median
What is the definition of sports-related concussion : A systematic review
- Authors: McCrory, Paul , Feddermann-Demont, Nina , Dvorak, Jiri , Cassidy, David , McIntosh, Andrew , Vos, Pieter , Echemendia, Ruben , Meeuwisse, Willem , Tarnutzer, Alexander
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 51, no. 11 (2017), p. 877-887
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- Description: Objectives: Various definitions for concussion have been proposed, each having its strengths and weaknesses. We reviewed and compared current definitions and identified criteria necessary for an operational definition of sports-related concussion (SRC) in preparation of the 5th Concussion Consensus Conference (Berlin, Germany). We also assessed the role of biomechanical studies in informing an operational definition of SRC. Design: This is a systematic literature review. Data sources: Data sources include MEDLINE, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Central Register of Clinical Trials and SPORT Discus (accessed 14 September 2016). Eligibility criteria for selecting studies: Eligibility criteria were studies reporting (clinical) criteria for diagnosing SRC and studies containing SRC impact data. Results: Out of 1601 articles screened, 36 studies were included (2.2%), 14 reported on criteria for SRC definitions and 22 on biomechanical aspects of concussions. Six different operational definitions focusing on clinical findings and their dynamics were identified. Biomechanical studies were obtained almost exclusively on American football players. Angular and linear head accelerations linked to clinically confirmed concussions demonstrated considerable individual variation. Summary/conclusions: SRC is a traumatic brain injury that is defined as a complex pathophysiological process affecting the brain, induced by biomechanical forces with several common features that help define its nature. Limitations identified include that the current criteria for diagnosing SRC are clinically oriented and that there is no gold/standard to assess their diagnostic properties. A future, more valid definition of SRC would better identify concussed players by demonstrating high predictive positive/negative values. Currently, the use of helmet-based systems to study the biomechanics of SRC is limited to few collision sports. New approaches need to be developed to provide objective markers for SRC. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved.