Social Risk Factors for an Injury in Paralympic Athletes: Examining Time to Access the Training Facility and Time to Prepare Before and After Training.

Abstract

Background: No previous study has analyzed the associations between Paralympic athletes' sociocultural factors and injury risk.

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of time to access the main training facility (TAF) and time to prepare before and after training (TPT) with the injury risk while controlling for sport, impairment type, and performance level. It was hypothesized that a longer TAF and TPT would be associated with an increased injury risk.

Study design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: A retrospective questionnaire was sent to 186 French athletes in 11 Paralympic sports who were identified by their sports federations as qualified to compete at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympic Games. The level of performance was determined according to past performance in international championships and the Paralympic Games. Impairment type was self-reported by athletes and then reclassified by a certified physician (limb deficiency, visual impairment, spinal cord-related disorder, central neurological disorder, short stature, peripheral neurological and muscular disorder). TAF and TPT were assessed by 2 self-reported questions. Injuries in the past 12 months were assessed using the latest consensus statement for the recording and reporting of self-reported epidemiological data on injuries in sports. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship of TAF and TPT with the injury risk while controlling for sport, impairment type, and performance level.

Results: A total of 126 athletes (response rate: 67.7%) agreed to participate. The prevalence of injuries was 35.7% (95% CI, 33.3%-38.2%); it was lower among athletes with a high level of performance compared with those with a low level of performance. Athletes who reported a TAF ≥40 minutes were 5.5 times (95% CI, 1.2-30.5) more likely to have sustained an injury than those who reported <10 minutes. Athletes who reported a TPT ≥1 hour and 30 minutes were 6.3 times (95% CI, 1.1-44.4) more likely to have had an injury than those who reported 15 minutes.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that Paralympic athletes who reported a longer TAF and TPT had a higher risk of injuries. Future studies are needed to understand the exact mechanism that would explain these results and to assist in the prevention of injuries in this population of athletes.