A Survey Study on Sports Injury by Age for Athletes in Record Competition Sports

Abstract

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the current injury status and traits, including damage area, cause of damage based on the situation, and type of occurrence by age group for middle and high schools, university, and professional athletes, in record competition sports (swimming, track and field, and weightlifting). METHODS The study included 503 athletes enrolled in the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee in 2020, and an online survey was conducted using the R statistical program. RESULTS Approximately 38.4% athletes suffered injuries with weightlifting (0.81 times at university) and weightlifting (7.02 times at university) during training. The lower extremities were the most affected areas in all age groups (53.8% in middle school, 48.6% in high school, 44.4% in university, and 47.4% in professional). The causes of damage found to occur most frequently were ‘lack of physical strength, overuse or lack of rest, and recurrence’ and external factors, including ‘facility programs and weather problems.’ The results showed that internal factors during training were mostly associated with ‘overuse or lack of rest and excessive attempts at skills’, while external factors were found to occur in ‘weather problems’. According to the classification of each event, the top priority of frequent damage according to the damaged area was skin bleeding of the head in swimming and muscle inflammation in the torso and upper and lower extremities. Track and field resulted in muscle inflammation in the head, torso, and upper and lower extremities. Weightlifting caused damage to the head and torso, resulted in spinal diseases (disc, spinal stenosis, etc.), and muscle inflammation in the upper and lower extremities. CONCLUSIONS This study highlighted changes in the training environment and training environment, including level-specific physical training, reinforcement programs, scientific access to specific skills, sufficient rest and recovery, and continuous improvement of facilities and equipment.