Comprehensive surveillance during the XXIX Summer and XXI Winter Games revealed that between 7% and 11% of all athletes incurred an injury or suffered from at least one illness.
Observational
Yes
Surveillance during Olympic Games reveals a 7-11% incidence of injury or illness, highlighting the need for tailored preventive measures.
Protection of the athletes' health is a clearly articulated objective of the International Olympic Committee. Longitudinal surveillance of injuries and illnesses can provide valuable data that may identify high-risk sports and disciplines. This is a foundation for introducing tailored preventive measures. During the XXIX Summer and XXI Winter Games, comprehensive injury and illness recording through the medical staff of the participating National Olympic Committees and the sports medicine clinics revealed that between 7% and 11% of all athletes incurred an injury or suffered from at least one occurrence of illness during the Games. The incidence of injuries and illnesses varied substantially between sports. In the future, risk factor and injury mechanism analyses in high-risk Olympic sports are essential to better direct injury-prevention strategies. Concomitantly, periodic health evaluations of athletes will be instrumental to optimise health protection.
Steffen et al. (2012) conducted an observational in Injuries and illnesses. Longitudinal surveillance was evaluated on Occurrence of injury or illness. Comprehensive surveillance during the XXIX Summer and XXI Winter Games revealed that between 7% and 11% of all athletes incurred an injury or suffered from at least one illness.