Large numbers of athletes at the last Olympics suffered from injuries, according to analysis published today.
A study found that 9% of athletes at the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games sustained an injury.
Boxing carried the highest risk (27%) but high risks were also seen in some of the newer sports including BMX racing (22% to 27%), karate (19%), and skateboarding.
Researchers led by Dr Torbjorn Soligard of the International Olympic Committee’s Medical and Scientific Department, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, analysed information on 11,315 athletes.
Overall injuries were comparable with previous Olympic Games, they state in the British Journal of Sports Medicine today.
In addition to injuries, there were 3.9 illnesses per 100 athletes over the 17 day period. Covid accounted for 4% of the illnesses and heat stroke 18%.
The authors believe their work will help event organisers "plan and optimise their health care provision and prevention measures".
A further study in the same journal has compared the rate of injuries at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. This found that fewer, but more serious, injuries occurred than at previous Games.
Again, some of the highest injury rates were among new sports including taekwondo and badminton.
Professor Wayne Derman of Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and colleagues analysed figures on 4,403 athletes during the three day pre-competition and 12 day competition periods.
Eight per cent of athletes sustained an injury, the highest rates being seen in five-a-side football (17%), taekwondo (16%), judo (12%) and badminton (10%).
"Compared with previous Paralympic Games, there was a reduction in injury incidence but higher injury burden at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
"These findings provide epidemiological data to inform injury prevention measures for high-risk sports."
Soligard, T. et al. New sports, COVID-19 and the heat: sports injuries and illnesses in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. British Journal of Sports Medicine 14 December 2022; doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-106155 [abstract]
Derman, W. et al. Incidence and burden of injury at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games held during the COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective cohort study of 66 045 athlete days. British Journal of Sports Medicine 14 December 2022; doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-106234 [abstract]
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