A large-scale cross-sectional study of upper limb injuries in wheelchair marathon para-athletes

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19454
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: Wakayama Medical University
• Principal Investigator: SAKATA Yuki 和歌山県立医科大学, 医学部, 準客員研究員 (60816742)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 車いすマラソン / 上肢障害 / 腱板損傷 / 超音波 / 新型コロナウイルス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the relationship between wheelchair marathon para-athletes and upper limb disorders among athletes participating in the 2020-2022 Oita International Wheelchair Marathon.We were unable to conduct the survey in 2020 due to the novel coronavirus infection, but we were able to conduct surveys in 2021 and 2022.In 2021,among survey subjects,the prevalence rate of shoulder pain was 55%, 36% were found to have abnormalities in the primary medical examination, and 9% were diagnosed with rotator cuff injuries in the secondary medical examination.In 2022, the prevalence rate of shoulder pain was 75%, 42% were found to have abnormalities in the primary examination, and 17% were diagnosed with rotator cuff injuries in the secondary examination.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

2020年度は新型コロナウイルス感染症対策で上肢検診を実施できなかったが、2021年度と2022年度で感染対策を十分に行いながら上肢検診を行った。被験者は十分な人数は集まらなかったが、1次検診だけでも約半数で異常所見を認めた。希望者を2次検診に紹介し、約1割で腱板損傷と診断を受けた。今回の調査ではコロナ禍で実施したため受診率が低かった可能性があるが、車いすパラアスリートを対象とした上肢検診の普及により、1次検診や2次検診を希望しやすい状況を整備すれば、受診率や有病率、原因の解明につながるのではないかと考える。