2022 Special Olympics USA Games: Sport-related Medical Incidents Sustained By Athletes With Intellectual Disabilities

PURPOSE: This study characterizes the incidence of sport-related injuries and illnesses among the 3012 athletes representing 51 US and 11 Caribbean programs who competed in 19 sports during the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games held in Orlando, FL, in June 2022. METHODS: Medical incidents during competition were categorized as injuries (MSK: sprain, strain, and bony injury) and illnesses non-musculoskeletal, as well as major incidents requiring assessment and/or treatment, and minor assessments where no assessment was needed. Data was recorded by professional medical staff. Distributions of athletes injured/ill per sport, incident severity, and types of injury/illness were analyzed. RESULTS: Athletes sustained 346 medical incidents (140 MSK injuries, 206 illnesses) during competitions (Table 1). Of these, 293 (9.7% (8.7-10.8%) of total participants) required major assistance, 37 (1.2% (0.8-1.6%)) required minor assistance, and 16 (0.5% (0.3-0.8%)) required transport to hospital or clinic. The sports with the highest incidence of injuries and illnesses were basketball (n = 51), athletics/track & field (n = 42), flag football (n = 42), and soccer (n = 38). Sports with the highest proportion of incidents among athletes were tennis (33.3% (23.1-43.6%)), flag football (19.8% (14.4-25.2%), and soccer (19.0% (13.6-24.4%). Dehydration (7.3%) and hyperthermia/heat exhaustion (5.4%) were the most common illnesses while the most common injuries were strain/muscle rupture/tear (14.7%), contusion/ hematoma/bruise (13.5%), and soft tissue injury (12.2%). CONCLUSION: Special Olympics athletes participating in the USA Games in Orlando, FL experienced a range of sport-related injuries and illnesses. Heat-related illnesses were most frequent, though protocols to limit exposure to excessive heat may have prevented further incidents among these athletes with intellectual disabilities. Supported by CDC grant #NU27D-D000021 and Golisano Foundation .