[Injuries in track and field sports]

Abstract

Acute injuries in track and field sports are rare compared to team or combatant sports (accident rate 0.4%-1%). Acute lesions are most frequent in the muscular system, followed by ruptures of the larger tendons as well as of the ligaments and capsule of the large joints. More frequent are the so-called chronically recurrent microlesions due to false or excessive strain and "endogeneous injuries." Pain at the insertions of the great tendons belongs to this category, for instance achillodynia, the so-called shin splint at the tibia, and jumper's knee involving the patella tendon. Operative treatment of muscle tears is only considered in cases of bigger extent, i.e. in 1/3 of the whole muscle diameter. Disruptions of the great tendons especially at the leg as well as unstable injuries of the capsular ligaments are an indication for reconstructive surgery. In cases of chronic sports injuries due to recurrent overstrain the noxious agent must be eliminated as a preventive step accompanied by some conservative methods of treatment. Stretching and warming up in combination with step-by-step rehabilitation training are of special importance.