Occurance of injury during ASEAN Paragames Cambodia 2023: a study in Indonesia para-athletics team

Introduction: Possible risk factors, such as gender, age, type of discipline, and category of impairment, are associated as indicators of higher incidence rates (IR) and injury characteristics in athletic athletes. Objective: To provide deeper information about the incidence rate (IR) and injury characteristics in the Indonesian athletics team at the ASEAN Paragames Cambodia 2023. Methodology: This research employs a retrospective study methodology in conjunction with an observational approach. Comprehensive athlete demographic data were obtained from the National Paralympic Committee Indonesia (NPC Indonesia). Injury-related data were obtained from a database by a medical team that provided treatment for their respective sports, using a recording system created by the medical team. Results: 86.8 injuries per 1000 athlete days was the overall injury rate. The IR did not significantly differ between tracks (IR, 112.55) and field (IR, 61.22). Discussion: Athletes using assistive devices have the potential to experience injuries to the lower limbs, although athletes with limb deficiency may face lower risk levels compared to athletes from other ambulation impairment categories. Athletes using wheelchairs who participate in throws have a high risk of experiencing injuries in the shoulder area. Conclusions: Injuries in athletes with assistive devices occur more frequently in the thigh, and shoulder injuries in wheelchair athletes. The type of impairment an athlete has and the sport they play affect the frequency and location of biomechanical injuries.