The Experience of the Upper Respiratory Infection of the Elite Winter Sports Athletes and Its Effect on Training and Competition / 대한스포츠의학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the experience of the upper respiratory infection of the elite winter sports athletes and its effect on training and competition. METHODS: We conducted survey on elite athletes preparing for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games. The general characteristics, training and competition loss due to upper respiratory infection were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Multiple regression analysis was performed to find out the factors that influence on training loss due to upper respiratory infection. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant and data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 24.0. RESULTS: A total 65 players answered the questionnaire. Sixteen players (24.7%) reported that they got an upper respiratory infection more than three times a year. The month mainly affected by upper respiratory infection was September to November. Main symptom of upper respiratory infection was rhinorrhea mostly, followed by sore throat, cough, sputum. Six players (9.2%) answered that they were excluded from training more than three times due to upper respiratory infection for 1 year. Seven players (10.7%) answered that they were excluded from competition one time due to upper respiratory infection for 1 year. The factors that influence on training loss due to upper respiratory syndrome were the numbers of getting upper respiratory infection for 1 year and age. CONCLUSION: Elite winter athletes are vulnerable to upper respiratory and it has a bad effect on training and competition. So we need to take care of elite athletes' illness like upper respiratory infection.

Injuries and Illnesses of Korean Athletes during the Almaty Winter Universiade Games 2017 / 대한스포츠의학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to describe the pattern of injuries and illnesses among Korean athletes during the Almaty Winter Universiade 2017. METHODS: All medical staffs of Korean team recorded the daily occurrence of injuries and illnesses sustained during the Almaty Winter Universiade Games by using a standardized online form via kociss.com. The design of this study was a prospective study. RESULTS: In total, 98 athletes (68 men and 30 women) in 11 sports events from Korean Sport Olympic Committee participated in this study. Korean medical staffs reported 40 injuries (40.8%) and 26 illnesses (26.5%), equaling incidences of 6.3 injuries and 4.1 illnesses per 100 athletes. Men suffered more injury and illness than women (44.1% vs. 33.3%). The rate of Injury and illness in training was higher than the competition (13.3 vs. 2.0 athlete exposures). The risk of an athlete being injured was the highest in freestyle skiing, followed by snowboard and speed skating. Overall, the main common type and location of injury was the joint or ligaments sprain (13.3%) and knee (7.1%). The rate of main illness was 17.3% of the respiratory system with the main symptom of pain and the main cause of environment (22.4%). CONCLUSION: Injuries and illnesses occurred 40.8% and 26.5% during this winter game, and were higher during training than a competition. Based on the epidemiologic data of this study, it could provide the source for the injury prevention and improving the performance of the athlete and further develop scientific injury and illness surveillance systems.