OVERUSE INJURIES AND PREVENTION PRACTICES IN ROAD CYCLISTS, IN CASE OF MEKELLE, TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Overuse injuries are categories of sport related injuries that results from cumulative trauma or repetitive use and stress. The general objective of the study was to assess the Overuse Injuries and Prevention Practices in Road Cyclists, In Case of Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia. Retrospective cross sectional design with quantitative and qualitative approach was used for gathering the data. Out of the total 6 clubs in Tigray region 3 clubs (Messebo, Guna, and Trans Ethiopia) were selected purposefully, the target population of the study were 74 cyclists (24 females and 50 males), 6 coaches, 3 team Physicians with totally 83 sample size which were available on the three clubs. Schedule was the major data collection tool in the study and targeted to cyclists. Questionnaire was the other data gathering tool which was answered by coaches and team physicians. The questionnaire was analysed using frequency and percentage. The major finding of this study shows that lower back pain (55.41%) and anterior knee pain (40.54%) are the highly prevalence injuries, Too much training (62.16%), Bicycle position (25.68%) were the leading causes of overuse injury, Most of the cyclists completed normal training and racing schedule however their performance was reduced (35.14%) while an overuse injury becomes worsen. The mechanisms used for injury prevention on these clubs were primarily planning training based on the capacity and skill of the cyclists, give an orientation to cyclists regarding the training plan, increasing training load gradually, and sufficient supply of good nutrition with adequate resting/ recovery time