Soft tissue injuries in cyclists of the national team

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted on 100 male cyclists of the national team presented with different soft tissue injuries. Fifty of them were juniors [15-17 years], while the other fifty were seniors [17-30 years]. They were examined clinically after thorough medical history, generally and locally according to the site of injury with special tests of the involved parts to emphasize the diagnosis. The total number of injuries reported in the junior group was 65, while a total number of 75 was reported in the senior group with insignificant difference between both groups. The lower limbs were more commonly affected in both groups representing 61.5% of injuries in juniors and 66.7% of injuries in seniors, while injuries of the upper limbs comprised 23.1% and 20%, respectively. Involvement of the back represented 15.4% in juniors and 13.3% in seniors. Most injuries affected cyclists of the third level of performance capacity [37.2%]. Overuse or over training was reflected by the occurrence of most injuries at the end of season [49.2% of junior injuries and 36% of senior injuries] with a significant difference between both groups. Most soft tissue injuries in cyclists were chronic lesions with no definite history of trauma but due to repetitive microtraumata with their cumulative effects