Characteristics of musculoskeletal injuries in athletes with visual impairment

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and the characteristics of musculoskeletal injuries in athletes with visual impairment. Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 34 athletes from different Paralympic sports modalities were evaluated. The athletes were divided into two groups, depending on their functional classification: group B1 (total visual loss, N=16) and group B2-B3 (partial visual loss, N=18). The characteristics of the musculoskeletal lesions (prevalence, type and body part location) were acquired through an adapted questionnaire. The comparison between groups was made through the χ2 test, assuming a significance of 5%. Results: The B2-B3 group had a greater number of recurrence lesions than the B1 group (P<0.008). There were no differences between groups regarding type and location of musculoskeletal lesions (P>0.153), with overall predominance of traumatic (51% of total) and lower limbs lesions (53% of total). Conclusion: In summary, athletes with partial visual loss (classes B2 and B3) are more predisposed to recurrence of musculoskeletal injuries than athletes with total visual loss (class B1). More attention should be paid to the evaluation and prevention of injuries in this population.