Injuries to Athletes with Physical Disabilities: Prevention Implications

In brief: While athletes with disabilities may not be injured any more often than the able-bodied, the types of injuries they sustain are specific to their disabilities and sports. Wheelchair athletes, for example, are especially susceptible to hypothermia and hyperthermia due to their inactive leg muscles, vasomotor paralysis, and reduced evaporative heat loss and cooling. This review of current literature reveals that high-risk sports are track and field, basketball, and road racing, with soft-tissue injuries the most common among wheelchair athletes. Carpal tunnel syndrome is also a characteristic injury. Many preventive measures are suggested, including prescription of sport chairs tailored to an athlete's body type, disability, and sport.