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Mental health, sleep and pain in elite Para athletes and the association with injury and illness ‐ a prospective study

Fagher, Kristina LU ; Dahlström, Örjan and Lexell, Jan LU (2023) In PM and R 15(9). p.1130-1139
Abstract
Introduction
The interest in Para athletes’ health continues to increase. Still, there are few studies that have evaluated health parameters beyond injury and illness in this athlete population.

Objective
To assess: i) the weekly proportion of elite Para athletes reporting anxiety/depression, low sleep levels (≤7 hours) and pain over 52 weeks and; ii) and to explore whether these health parameters are associated with the risk for a sports injury or illness.

Design
A 52-week prospective study, part of the Sports-related Injury and Illness in Paralympic Sport Study (SRIIPSS).

Setting
A total of 107 Swedish elite Para athletes with physical, visual and intellectual impairment... (More)
Introduction
The interest in Para athletes’ health continues to increase. Still, there are few studies that have evaluated health parameters beyond injury and illness in this athlete population.

Objective
To assess: i) the weekly proportion of elite Para athletes reporting anxiety/depression, low sleep levels (≤7 hours) and pain over 52 weeks and; ii) and to explore whether these health parameters are associated with the risk for a sports injury or illness.

Design
A 52-week prospective study, part of the Sports-related Injury and Illness in Paralympic Sport Study (SRIIPSS).

Setting
A total of 107 Swedish elite Para athletes with physical, visual and intellectual impairment participated.

Main outcome measures
Data on self-reported anxiety/depression, sleep levels, pain and injuries/illnesses were collected weekly. Comparisons of these parameters preceding an injury/illness were made using Friedman's ANOVA.

Results
The proportion of athletes reporting weekly anxiety/depression was 34.1%. Concerning sleeping levels, 60.9% athletes reported sleeping ≤7 hours or less, and 49.9% reported pain. In exploratory analyses, there were no significant differences between weeks before an injury for any of the variables. There were significant differences in levels of sleep over the weeks, where sleep levels were significantly higher (>10h) four weeks prior to an illness (p=0.016).

Conclusion
This cohort of elite Para athletes reported relatively high levels of anxiety/depression, low sleep levels, and pain, which is a concern. High sleep levels and the risk for illness might be an indication of overtraining, which commonly leads to persistent fatigue and an increased susceptibility to infections. Monitoring of elite Para athletes' health is recommended to be able to improve performance and health in this population. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
PM and R
volume
15
issue
9
pages
1130 - 1139
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85148290427
  • pmid:36270015
ISSN
1934-1563
DOI
10.1002/pmrj.12917
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
4803666b-7b31-41d0-9a99-15b3a1c17490
date added to LUP
2022-12-28 09:56:19
date last changed
2023-10-26 14:54:46
@article{4803666b-7b31-41d0-9a99-15b3a1c17490,
  abstract     = {{Introduction<br/>The interest in Para athletes’ health continues to increase. Still, there are few studies that have evaluated health parameters beyond injury and illness in this athlete population.<br/><br/>Objective<br/>To assess: i) the weekly proportion of elite Para athletes reporting anxiety/depression, low sleep levels (≤7 hours) and pain over 52 weeks and; ii) and to explore whether these health parameters are associated with the risk for a sports injury or illness.<br/><br/>Design<br/>A 52-week prospective study, part of the Sports-related Injury and Illness in Paralympic Sport Study (SRIIPSS).<br/><br/>Setting<br/>A total of 107 Swedish elite Para athletes with physical, visual and intellectual impairment participated.<br/><br/>Main outcome measures<br/>Data on self-reported anxiety/depression, sleep levels, pain and injuries/illnesses were collected weekly. Comparisons of these parameters preceding an injury/illness were made using Friedman's ANOVA.<br/><br/>Results<br/>The proportion of athletes reporting weekly anxiety/depression was 34.1%. Concerning sleeping levels, 60.9% athletes reported sleeping ≤7 hours or less, and 49.9% reported pain. In exploratory analyses, there were no significant differences between weeks before an injury for any of the variables. There were significant differences in levels of sleep over the weeks, where sleep levels were significantly higher (&gt;10h) four weeks prior to an illness (p=0.016).<br/><br/>Conclusion<br/>This cohort of elite Para athletes reported relatively high levels of anxiety/depression, low sleep levels, and pain, which is a concern. High sleep levels and the risk for illness might be an indication of overtraining, which commonly leads to persistent fatigue and an increased susceptibility to infections. Monitoring of elite Para athletes' health is recommended to be able to improve performance and health in this population.}},
  author       = {{Fagher, Kristina and Dahlström, Örjan and Lexell, Jan}},
  issn         = {{1934-1563}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{1130--1139}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{PM and R}},
  title        = {{Mental health, sleep and pain in elite Para athletes and the association with injury and illness ‐ a prospective study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pmrj.12917}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/pmrj.12917}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}