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DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1277207
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
Injuries and Overuse Syndromes in Powerlifting
Publication History
Publication Date:
17 May 2011 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/sportsmed/201109/lookinside/thumbnails/10.1055-s-0031-1277207-1.jpg)
Abstract
Powerlifting is a discipline of competitive weightlifting. To date, no investigations have focused on pain encountered during routine training. The aim of the study was to identify such pain, assign it to particular exercises and assess the data regarding injuries as well as the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Data of 245 competitive and elite powerlifters was collected by questionnaire. Information regarding current workout routines and retrospective injury data was collected. Study subjects were selected from 97 incorporated powerlifting clubs. A percentage of 43.3% of powerlifters complained of problems during routine workouts. Injury rate was calculated as 0.3 injuries per lifter per year (1 000 h of training=1 injury). There was no evidence that intrinsic or extrinsic factors affected this rate. Most commonly injured body regions were the shoulder, lower back and the knee. The use of weight belts increased the injury rate of the lumbar spine. Rate of injury to the upper extremities was significantly increased based on age >40 years (shoulder/p=0.003, elbow/p=0.003, hand+wrist/p=0.024) and female gender (hand+wrist/p=0.045). The daily workout of a large proportion of powerlifters is affected by disorders which do not require an interruption of training. The injury rate is low compared to other sports.
Key words
powerlifting - overuse syndrome - exercise pain - squat - bench press - dead lift
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Correspondence
Dr. Jan Siewe
University of Cologne
Department of Orthopaedic
and Trauma Surgery
Kerpener Straße 62
50937 Cologne
Germany
Phone: +49/163/782 63 07
Fax: +49/221/478 70 45
Email: jan.siewe@uk-koeln.de