{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Diving Into the Health Problems of Competitive Divers: A Systematic Review of Injuries and Illnesses in Pre-elite and Elite Diving Athletes.
{Author}: Currie BM;Drew MK;Hetherington M;Waddington G;Brown NAT;Toohey LA;
{Journal}: Sports Health
{Volume}: 0
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Jun 3
{Factor}: 4.355
{DOI}: 10.1177/19417381241255329
{Abstract}: <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The Olympic sport of diving involves the competitive disciplines of 3 m springboard and 10 m platform. Although it is generally accepted that lumbar spine injuries are common in diving athletes, the existing literature of health problems in diving athletes remains scarce.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>To identify the incidence, prevalence, and type of health problems that occur in competitive diving athletes.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Medline, EMBASE, SportsDiscus, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Studies written in English investigating elite or pre-elite competitive diving (springboard, platform) injuries and/or illnesses were eligible. Two independent reviewers screened for inclusion by title, abstract, and full text in accordance with the eligibility criteria.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Systematic review.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Level 4.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Data extraction was completed by 1 author using a structured form. A second author then independently reviewed and verified the extracted data, any discrepancies were resolved through consensus.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The search identified 2554 potential articles, with 28 studies meeting eligibility criteria. The surveillance setting of most studies was restricted to competition-based events, with the reported injury incidence proportion ranging from 2.1% to 22.2%. The reported injury incidence rate ranged from 1.9 to 15.5 per 1000 athlete-exposures. Injuries to the shoulder, lower back/lumbar spine, trunk, and wrist/hand were reported most frequently. The prevalence of low back pain was reported as high as 89% (lifetime), 43.1% (period), and 37.3% (point). The illness incidence proportion ranged from 0.0% to 22.2%, with respiratory and gastrointestinal illness reported most frequently.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Up to 1 in 5 diving athletes sustain an injury and/or illness during periods of competition. A reporting bias was observed, with most cohort studies limiting surveillance to short competition-based periods only. This limits the current understanding of the health problems experienced by diving athletes to competition periods only and requires expansion to whole-of-year surveillance.