Sports injury and illness incidence in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Summer Games: A prospective study of 11274 athletes from 207 countries

Soligard, Torborn; Steffen, Kathrin; Palmer, Debbie; Alonso, Juan Manuel; Bahr, Roald; Lopes, Alexandre Dias; Dvorak, Jiri; Grant, Marie-Elaine; Meeuwisse, Willem; Mountjoy, Margo; Pena Costa, Leonardo Oliveira; Salmina, Natalia; Budgett, Richard; Engebretsen, Lars

Abstract

Objective: To describe the pattern of injuries and illnesses sustained during the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, hosted by Rio de Janeiro from 5 to 21 August2016.

Methods: We recorded the daily occurrence of athlete injuries and illnesses (1) through the reporting of all National Olympic Committee (NOC) medical teams and (2) in the polyclinic and medical venues by the Rio 2016 medical staff.

Results: In total, 11 274 athletes (5089 women, 45%; 6185 men, 55%) from 207 NOCs participated in the study. NOC and Rio 2016 medical staff reported 1101 injuries and 651 illnesses, equalling 9.8 injuries and 5.4 illnesses per 100 athletes over the 17-day period.
Altogether, 8% of the athletes incurred at least one injury and 5% at least one illness. The proportion of athletes injured was highest in BMX cycling (38%), boxing (30%), mountain bike cycling (24%), taekwondo (24%), water polo (19%) and rugby (19%), and lowest
in canoe slalom, rowing, shooting, archery, swimming, golf and table tennis (0%–3%). Of the 1101 injuries recorded, 40% and 20% were estimated to lead to ≥1 and >7 days of absence from sport, respectively. Females suffered 40% more illnesses than males. Illness was generally less common than injury, with the highest
proportion seen in diving (12%), open-water marathon (12%), sailing (12%), canoe slalom (11%), equestrian (11%) and synchronised swimming (10%). Illnesses were also less severe, with 18% expected to result in time loss. The most commonly affectedly systems were the respiratory (47%) and digestive systems (21%).
The anticipated problem of infections in Rio did not materialise, as the proportion of athletes with infectious diseases mirrored that of recent Olympic Games (3%).

Conclusion: Overall, 8% of the athletes incurred at least one injury during the Olympic Games, and 5% an illness, which is slightly lower than in prior Olympic Games.

Citation

Soligard, T., Steffen, K., Palmer, D., Alonso, J. M., Bahr, R., Lopes, A. D., Dvorak, J., Grant, M.-E., Meeuwisse, W., Mountjoy, M., Pena Costa, L. O., Salmina, N., Budgett, R., & Engebretsen, L. (2017). Sports injury and illness incidence in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Summer Games: A prospective study of 11274 athletes from 207 countries. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 51(17), 1265-1271. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-097956

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 29, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Jul 29, 2017
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Deposit Date: Jul 21, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 30, 2018
• Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine
• Print ISSN: 0306-3674
• Electronic ISSN: 1473-0480
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 51
• Issue: 17
• Pages: 1265-1271
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-097956
• Keywords: Sports Injuries, Olymic Summer Games, Rio de Janeiro,
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/965288
• Contract Date: Jul 21, 2017