Survey and comparison of sport injuries in wheelchair and non-wheelchair disabled athletes

The purpose of this research was to describe the type and nature of athletic injuries incurred by wheelchair and non-wheelchair disabled athletes. The 580 participants in the Janbazan cultural and sports tournament in September-October 1992 formed the research sample. There were 105 (18%) athletes in wheelchair track and field, 112 (19%) in wheelchair basketball, 118 (20%) in volleyball, 150 (27%) in non-wheelchair track and field, 95 (16%) in weight lifting. A retrospective survey was administered. Resulting data were described using the statistical package for social sciences. Injuries included skin injury, muscle-tendon strain, joint sprain and bone fracture that occurred in the competition. Twenty two percent of the injuries occurred in those involved in wheelchair track and field competition, 17% in wheelchair basketball, 22% in volleyball, 24% in non-wheelchair track and field and 15% in weight lifting. The upper extremity was the most commonly injured area, accounting for 79% of the total injuries followed by the lower extremity 17% and trunk 4%. 57% of injuries reported were skin injuries. 23% were muscle-tendon strain injuries, 16% were sprains and 4% were bone injuries. Injuries to the wheelchair athletes occurred in the fingers (49%), palm (30%), shoulder (9%), wrist (5%), trunk (3%) and blister (22%), abrasion and laceration (25%), strain (16.5%), sprain (7%), bone injuries (2%). Injuries to the non-wheelchair athletes occurred finger (29%), palm (21%), shoulder (8%), wrist (4%), trunk (4%) and blister (8%), abrasion and laceration (19%), strain (24%), sprain (23%) and bone injuries (8%). In conclusion, there was a significant relationship between disabled sports activities and skin injuries with level of confidence 95% and alpha 5%. There was a significant relationship between disabled sports activity and muscle-tendon injuries with level of confidence 95% and alpha 5%. There was a significant relationship between disabled sports activity and joint injuries with level of confidence 95% and alpha 5%.