Injuries in elite orienteers

Abstract

A prospective study of injuries in 89 elite orienteers showed a total incidence of three injuries per 1,000 training hours, with no difference between the sexes. Mean absence from training per year due to injury was 20 days for men and 19 days for women. Most injuries (80.3%) occurred during training, while the remaining injuries occurred during competition. The lower extremities were affected in 93.6% of the male injuries and in all of the female injuries. The majority of injuries (60.6%) were moderate, while 19.7% were minor and 19.7% were major injuries. Overuse injuries accounted for 57%; 43% of the injuries were due to trauma. Overuse injuries predominated in the preseason period, while the incidence was equal between overuse and traumatic injuries over the rest of the year. Of a total number of 38 overuse injuries, 60.5% occurred during running on tracks or roads. Thirteen injuries (19.7%) were major; the majority (84.6%) of these injuries were due to overuse, affecting the knee in eight cases (61.5%). Of the major injuries, 76.5% occurred during the period December to May. Of a total number of 28 traumatic injuries, 78.6% occurred while running on uneven ground, mainly in forests. Among the traumatic injuries, ankle sprains accounted for 57.1%, equally distributed between the sexes. The majority of these sprains (81.2%) were moderate. This paper will discuss injury mechanisms and possibilities of prevention.