Every Olympics, be it the Summer or the Winter, athletes get injured (and some are really serious ones). In fact, experts say that the frequency and severity of injuries at the Olympics have not varied much in the past decade, as athletes continue to push themselves for the ultimate glory.
“The overall rate of injury was similar between the most recent Winter Games, 14 injuries per 100 athletes, and Summer Games, 13 injuries per 100 athletes, reflecting the panorama of sports disciplines,” Dr. Lars Engebretsen, a professor at the University of Oslo in Norway who has served as the head of medical sciences for the International Olympic Committee since 2007.
The more serious injuries are in higher-velocity sports – cycling (Summer Olympics), Alpine skiing and snowboarding events (Winter Olympics).
Which are the most common injuries?
Now this will interest fitness/sports enthusiasts and trainers.
The most common injuries are those arising from ‘overuse’. Overuse injuries can range from tendinitis to shin splints, for example. Common symptoms include swelling, soreness and pain.
And what exactly ‘overuse’ means?
It just means that the body is undergoing more amount of stress, in any given period of time, than it’s actually capable of accepting or dealing with (without having a negative effect on that tissue.)
Treating overuse injuries
Cupping, dry needling, scraping, massage and compression and ice baths, are the treatments used by athletes to improve healing and address the constant stress on the body.
Research centers around the world have been tracking and studying injuries that occur during Olympic Games in an effort to better innovate ways to prevent injuries.
“When we understand these injury patterns, how injuries happen, we can suggest and test ways to mitigate the risks.”
As for the athletes, the injuries is the cost of striving for greatness at the Olympics.
Leave a Reply