Self-reported sports injuries and later-life health status in 3357 retired Olympians from 131 countries: a cross-sectional survey among those competing in the games between London 1948 and PyeongChang 2018

Palmer, D; Cooper, D; Emery, C; Batt, ME; Engebretsen, L; Scammell, BE; Shroff, M; Soligard, T; Steffen, K; Whittaker, JL; Budgett, R; Schamasch, P

Abstract

<jats:sec><jats:title>Objective</jats:title><jats:p>Describe the self-reported prevalence and nature of Olympic-career injury and general health and current residual symptoms in a self-selected sample of retired Olympians.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>3357 retired Olympians from 131 countries completed a cross-sectional online survey, distributed by direct email through World Olympians Association and National Olympian Associations databases. The survey captured Olympic sport exposure, significant training and competition injury history (lasting <jats:underline>&gt;</jats:underline>1?month), general health (eg, depression) during the athlete’s career, and current musculoskeletal pain and functional limitations.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>55% were men (44% women, 1% unknown), representing 57 sports (42 Summer, 15 Winter), aged 44.7 years (range 16–97). A total of 3746 injuries were self-reported by 2116 Olympians. This equated, 63.0% (women 68.1%, men 59.2%) reporting at least one significant injury during their Olympic career. Injury prevalence was highest in handball (82.2%) and lowest in shooting (40.0%) for Summer Olympians; and highest in alpine skiing (82.4%) and lowest in biathlon (40.0%) for Winter Olympians. The knee was the most frequently injured anatomical region (20.6%, 120 median days severity), followed by the lumbar spine (13.1%, 100 days) and shoulder/clavicle (12.9%, 92 days). 6.6% of Olympians said they had experienced depression during their career. One-third of retired Olympians reported current pain (32.4%) and functional limitations (35.9%).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>Almost two-thirds of Olympians who completed the survey reported at least one Olympic-career significant injury. The knee, lumbar spine and shoulder/clavicle were the most commonly injured anatomical locations. One-third of this sample of Olympians attributed current pain and functional limitations to Olympic-career injury.</jats:p></jats:sec>

Citation

Palmer, D., Cooper, D., Emery, C., Batt, M., Engebretsen, L., Scammell, B., …Schamasch, P. (2020). Self-reported sports injuries and later-life health status in 3357 retired Olympians from 131 countries: a cross-sectional survey among those competing in the games between London 1948 and PyeongChang 2018. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 46 - 53. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-101772

• Acceptance Date: Sep 25, 2020
• Publication Date: Nov 9, 2020
• Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine
• Print ISSN: 0306-3674
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Pages: 46 - 53
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-101772
• Publisher URL: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/55/1/46