The sport participation limiting injuries, musculoskeletal complaints and the SF-36v2 health survey data in Paralympic volleyball players. A long time survey.

There are still very scarce data available on the sport related or sport participation limiting secondary pathology in the Paralympic contingent. We have followed through questionnaires the international Paralympic volleyball players during the years 1995 - 2008. The injury questionnaire (original questionnaire) results were obtained on the 474 international sitting volleyball players (88 female, 386 male) and 55 standing volleyball players (male). The SF-36v2 data were obtained on the 75 players (43 female, 32 male). An overall incidence of sports related participation limiting injury was 1.04 +/- 0.11 per player/season either 5.08 +/- 0.43 per 1000 training/competition hours. SF-36v2 Physical and Mental components scores (PCS and MCS) were, accordingly, 45,30 +/- 7,96 and 41,02 +/- 9,57. The injury rate in Paralympic volleyball is comparable to that in the Olympic one. PCS and MCS are below the US general population norms with MCS being statistically significantly lower. The prophylactical measures were recommended.