Epidemiology, clinical characteristics and severity of gradual onset injuries in recreational road cyclists: A cross-sectional study in 21,824 cyclists - SAFER XIII

Abstract

Objectives: Prevalence, clinical characteristics and severity of gradual onset injuries (GOIs) in cyclists are poorly documented. We determine the prevalence, anatomical regions/sites affected and severity of GOIs among entrants in a community-based mass participation event. Design: Cross-sectional study; Setting: Cape Town Cycle Tour; Participants: Race entrants. Main outcome measures: Of 35,914 entrants, 27,349 completed pre-race medical questionnaires. We studied 21,824 consenting cyclists (60.8% of entrants). Crude lifetime prevalence, retrospective annual incidence, anatomical region/sites, specific GOI, tissue type and GOI severity is reported. Results: The lifetime prevalence of GOIs was 2.8%, with an annual incidence of 2.5%. More common anatomical regions affected by GOIs were lower limb (43.4%), upper limb (19.8%), and lower back (11.5%). The knee (26.3%), shoulder (13%), and lower back (11.5%) regions were mostly affected. The most common GOI was anterior knee pain (14.2%). Of the GOIs, 55% were in soft tissue. 50% of cyclists reported symptom duration >12 months, and 37.3% of GOIs were severe enough to reduce/prevent cycling. Conclusion: 2.5% recreational cyclists report a GOI annually. >50% of GOIs affect the knee, lower back and shoulder. GOIs negatively affect cycling. Risk factors related to GOIs in cyclists need to be determined to develop and implement prevention programs.

Fatores associados a lesões e dores musculoesqueléticas em praticantes de Mountain Bike

“…As regiões anatômicas mais acometidas por lesões foram os joelhos (4,55 e 4,52%), tornozelos/pés (4,55 e 2,01%), das mulheres e homens, respectivamente, e na parte inferior das costas dos homens (4,52%). Estes achados assemelham-se com dados já relatados que verificaram que as regiões anatômicas mais acometidas por lesões foram os joelhos (26,3%), ombros (13%) e parte inferior das costas (11,5%) 9 . Adicionalmente, os dados do National Interscholastic Cycling Association Injury Surveillance System revelam que as regiões mais acometidas por lesões em atletas de MTB são: cabeça (22,2%), punhos/mãos (19,0%) e ombro (15,7%) 10 .…”

Prevalence of overuse injuries in athletes from individual and team sports: A systematic review with meta-analysis and GRADE recommendations

“…10,31,32,34,36À38 Methodological quality items for each included study are reported in Table 2. Of seventeen studies, nine did not use sample frame appropriate to address the target population, 12,31,32,34À36,38,40,41 seventeen did not sample study participants in an appropriate way, 10,12,27À41 fourteen did not have appropriate sample size, 10,12,27À29,31À33,35,37À41 five did not describe subjects and the setting in detail, 32,[34][35][36][37] one did not analyze data with sufficient coverage of the identified sample, 31 four did not use valid methods for the identification of overuse injuries, 10,31,34,38 no study present measures in a standard and reliable way for all participants, three did not have appropriate statistical analysis, 34,36,37 and three did not reach appropriate response rate. 10,29,31 Prevalence of overuse injuries in individual and team sports Pooling of 24 704 participants, 22 748 from individual sports and 1956 from team sports, from the 17 included studies was done to estimate the prevalence of overuse injury in individual and team sports separately (Fig.…”

“…39À41 Regarding the study design, thirteen were prospective cohort studies, 12,27À30,32,35À41 two studies were descriptive epidemiological studies, 31,33 and two were cross-sectional studies. 10,34 For overuse injuries measurement, nine studies used the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center questionnaire (OSTRC), 12,27,28,30,32,33,36,39,40 four used the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center questionnaire on health problems (OSTRC-H), 29,35,37,41 one used an injury record form, 31 two used a questionnaire on injuries originally developed by the authors, 10,34 one used medical record data. 38 Thirteen studies reported period prevalence, 10,12,27,28,30,32,33,35À39,41 among them, three studies reported pre-competition prevalence, 27,40,41 two studies reported pre-and during the season prevalence, 35,36 four studies reported prevalence during the season, 12,32,33,37 and five studies did not specify when the prevalence measure was taken.…”

“…10,28,30,38,39 In addition, four studies reported point-prevalence. 29,31,34,40 Twelve studies reported prevalence of overuse injuries separated by anatomical areas, 12,27,28,30,32,33,35À37,39À41 one study reported separated team and individual sports, 10 and twelve studies reported the prevalence of substantial overuse injuries. 12,27À30,32,34À36,39À41…”

Survey on Low Back Pain among Cyclists: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Knowledge of Injury Prevention Strategies

“…Despite the fact that cycling is considered a safe and low-impact activity, a number of acute, chronic and overuse injuries have been linked to its practice (Dinu et al, 2019;Rasmussen et al, 2016). In regard to overuse injuries, low back pain (LBP) has been reported as one of the areas with a high prevalence of injuries in recent studies among recreational cyclists (11.5%) (Francois Du Toit et al, 2020), mountain bikers (23%) (Lebec et al, 2014), and road cyclists (45%) (Priego Quesada et al, 2019).…”