Epidemiology of Injury Complaints in Elite Sprinting Athletes in Athletics (Track and Field)

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of injury complaints related to athletics activity in elite (track and field) athletes practicing disciplines with sprints (i.e., sprints, hurdles, combined events, long jump, triple jump). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on sprinting licensed French Federation Athletics retrospective data collection that occurred during their lifetime activity, allowing reporting one-year period before survey at time survey, using self-reported online system. calculated (i) lifetime, (ii) 1 year, (iii) point (at survey) prevalence proportion, we descriptively analyzed complaint characteristics. Results: A total 302 were reported by 64 68 included athletes. The proportion was 95.6% (95% CI: 90.7 100.5%). 1-year 61.8% 50.2 73.3%). 16.2% 7.4 24.9%). Almost all located lower limb (92.7%) especially involved hamstrings (33.4%); main type muscle (49.0%), mainly training sudden mode onset. most frequent diagnosis hamstring (31.1%). Conclusions: This provides new insights specifically athletes, confirming risk this population injury. Efforts should thus continue monitor injuries develop athletics- sprinting-specific reduction strategies.