Abstract

Introduction: Non-disabled throwing athletes face unique challenges related to injuries and pain in the upper body due to high demands placed on the shoulders and upper limbs. However, there is limited research on the epidemiology of sports injuries in para athletes participating in the Para Athletics throwing events. Hence, the aim of this study was to describe the types of injuries and their prevalence among Para Athletics throwers (PATs)Material and methods: The main outcome was the 12-month prevalence of sports injury. Data were collected from PATs of any level, using an online questionnaire, and was analysed by calculating median, interquartile range, frequencies,percentages, and confidence intervals (CI). The chi-square and Mann-Whitney U-test were used to analyse differences in injury prevalence and injury onset between different sub-groups.Results: The study included 60 PATs (42 men, 18 women) with a variety of impairments. The 12-month period prevalence of injury was 40% (n = 24; 95% CI: 27.5-53.4), with the highest prevalence observed in athletes with blindness/low vision and intellectual impairments (75%, 95% CI: 19.4-99.4). Injuries affected primarily the shoulders (22.8%) and elbows (25.3%). The most common type of injuries were muscle strains (30%) and tendinopathies (25%). The proportion of injuries did not differ significantly between sub-groups. Most injuries (88.6%) occurred during training.Conclusions: Para athletic throwers are at greater risk of injuries in the upper extremities, and this highlights the importance of tailored injury prevention programs. It is crucial to mitigate the risk of injuries to the complex and vulnerable shoulder girdle in athletes with existing impairments.