Document Type : Original article
Authors
1
Associate Professor, Specialist in Sports Medicine, Department of Health and Sports Rehabilitation, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health Promotion, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
2
Ph.D. Candidate in Sports Injury and Corrective Exercises, Department of Health and Sports Rehabilitation, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health Promotion, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
3
M.Sc. Student in Sports Injury and Corrective Exercises, Department of Health and Sports Rehabilitation, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health Promotion, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
10.22037/sjrm.2025.117433.3352
Abstract
Background and Aims: Paralympic athletes are at increased risk of injuries due to their unique physical conditions, which may impair their performance.The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sports injuries and selected physiological and performance indicators in athletes participating in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive–analytical study was conducted with the participation of 76 male and female athletes from 11 sports disciplines competing in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, with a mean age of 32 ± 2.99 years. Data were collected using field and laboratory tests, including isokinetic strength (Biodex system), anaerobic power (Wingate test), static balance (Stork test), and dynamic balance (Y-balance test). To assess sports injuries, the validated Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center (OSTRC) questionnaire, consisting of four core components, was used (1).
Results: Findings indicated that sports injuries were associated with increased pain, functional limitations, and decreased training quality. In the Oslo questionnaire components, the injured group showed significantly higher mean scores than the healthy group in participation (p = 0.001), sports performance (p = 0.001), pain perception (p = 0.001), training disturbance (p = 0.027), and total score (p = 0.001). However, comparisons of physiological indicators between healthy and injured groups revealed no statistically significant differences. Specifically, t-test results for right knee strength (p = 0.945), left knee strength (p = 0.354), peak anaerobic power (p = 0.498), average anaerobic power (p = 0.352), static balance (p = 0.373), and dynamic balance (p = 0.326) were all non-significant.
Conclusion: The results emphasize the importance of integrating both subjective and objective evaluations in analyzing the performance of Paralympic athletes. These findings may inform the design of training, rehabilitation, and injury prevention programs for this population.
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