Overuse injuries in kitesurfing

Purpose: Kitesurfing is one of the world’s fastest-growing Olympic aquatic sports. However, previous scientific literature on this sport has mainly focused on acute injuries 1. Therefore, this study aimed to capture a picture of the burden of overuse injuries in kitesurfing. Methods: Active kite-surfers regularly completed an online questionnaire describing the health of their shoulders, lower back and knees and any injury-related symptoms. We adopted the focused-onsymptoms approach validated by Clarsen et al. 2. We separated acute from overuse injuries in the dataset based on telephone interviews. The self-reported number of hours spent practising kitesurfing was collected, as was the primary kitesurfing discipline each participant engaged in. We analysed the data using SAS (Statistical Analysis Software, Cary, NC) version 9.4 for analysis. Relationships between the binary status of having reported an injury or not and having reported a severe injury or not were tested for association with BMI using logistic regression (PROC LOGISTIC). Approval to conduct this study was given by the institutional Ethics Committee of the second author, and all participants gave informed consent. Results: Forty-three participants (age: range 21–55, mean: 39, SD: 8.9; BMI: range 15–19, mean: 23 SD: 2.8) completed a total of 304 questionnaires, covering a total period of 2,096 distinct person-days. Person-days of reduced participation related to shoulder, lower back and knee problems were 8%, 3% and 8% of the total, respectively. Performance was limited due to shoulder, lower back and knee problems in 11%, 22% and 16% of person-days, respectively. In 20 overuse injuries, it was possible to apply the Orchard Sports Injury Classification System OSICS10; they included: shoulder muscle strain (4), knee subluxation, biceps tendon lesion, patellar tendinopathy, pain post PCL reconstruction, pain post ACL reconstruction, lumbar pain nor otherwise specified (5), Patellofemoral impingement (2), Piriformis syndrome (2), pain post shoulder surgery, iliotibial band syndrome. Conclusions: Overuse injuries emerged as a significant predictor of reduced participation, decreased performance and discomfort in kitesurfing. The prospective survey method captured a picture of overuse injuries in kitesurfing not previously described. Epidemiological data reported in this paper are essential to underpin the creation of specific training programs to prevent injuries and improve comfort and performance in this sport. Acknowledgements: This study has benefited from the support of the international association EXTREMESPORTMED– www.extremesportmed.org References: 1. International Kiteboarding Association. 1st International Action Sports & Exercise Medicine Congress, Malcesine (VR), Italy, 12-13 July 2019. 2. Clarsen B, et al. Br J Sports Med, 2013. 47(8): p. 495–502.