Musculoskeletal injuries in elite able-bodied and wheelchair foil fencers--a pilot study

• Published in: Clinical journal of sport medicine Vol. 22; no. 3; p. 278
• Main Authors: Chung, Wai Man, Yeung, Simon, Wong, Arnold Yu Lok, Lam, Ida Fong, Tse, Philip Tat Fai, Daswani, Dinishi, Lee, Raymond
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2012
• Subjects: Adult; Athletes; Athletic Injuries - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Incidence; Lower Extremity - injuries; Male; Musculoskeletal System - injuries; Pilot Projects; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sprains and Strains - epidemiology; Upper Extremity - injuries; Wheelchairs; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1536-3724
• DOI: 10.1097/JSM.0b013e31824a577e

To explore the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries in elite able-bodied and wheelchair foil fencers. A 3-year prospective cohort study of sport injuries during 2006-2009. A sample of elite able-bodied fencers (AFs) and wheelchair fencers (WFs) from the Hong Kong National Squad. A total of 14 wheelchair and 10 able-bodied elite fencers completed the 3-year study. Monthly interviews with fencers to collect data related to their injuries. The incidence rate and relative risk of injury were analyzed among able-bodied and WFs with different trunk control ability. Wheelchair fencers had higher overall injury incidence rate (3.9/1000 hours) than AFs (2.4/1000 hours). Wheelchair fencers with poor trunk control were more vulnerable to injuries (4.9/1000 hours) than those with good trunk control (3.0/1000 hours). Upper extremity injuries were predominant in WFs (73.8%), with elbow (32.6%) and shoulder strain (15.8%) being the most common injuries. Lower extremity injuries were predominant in AFs (69.4%), with muscle strain over knee and thigh region (22.6%), ankle sprain (14.5%), and knee sprain (11.3%) being the leading injuries. Results of this pilot study highlighted the distinct injury incidence between the 2 different fencer groups. Larg-scale epidemiologic and biomechanical studies are warranted to improve the understanding of fencing injuries to develop specific injury prevention/rehabilitation programs.