Incidence and location of injuries in Olympic style wrestlers: An analysis by age, sex, weight-class and wrestling style

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine injuries among Olympic-style wrestlers by analyzing the injury incidence rate and its relationship with age, sex, weight-class and wrestling style. METHODS: Olympic-style wrestlers aged 17 years or above competing at national level in Sweden were recruited. Retrospective data about wrestling injuries incurred during year 2019 and 2020 were collected through a web-based questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 39 wrestlers in Sweden were included, whereof 12 women and 27 men. Sixty-nine percent of the participants sustained at least one injury and the overall injury incidence rate was 4.74 injuries/1000 hours of wrestling training and 551 injuries/1000 licensed athlete years. There were no significant differences in injury incidence rates between wrestling styles, weight-classes, age-categories or sexes, unlike other previous studies. The knee, lumbar spine, neck and shoulder were the most commonly reported injury locations. CONCLUSION: The injury incidence rate could be region-specific due to different coaching or wrestling styles. It is recommended to provide strength and conditioning training focusing on the muscles around the knees, lumbar spine, neck and shoulders among this group of Olympic-style wrestlers.