Abstract
As medical trainers, we accompanied Japanese players who participated in the Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia, and examined features of the disorders that occurred in Japanese players during the games. One year after the games, we determined changes in the disorders. During the games, we treated acute injuries under the direction of physicians. In addition, we treated players with various combinations of cryotherapy, thermotherapy, application of electrical current, ultrasonic therapy, stretching, massage and taping. The effects of these treatments were evaluated by comparing symptoms before and after treatment as expressed by the face scale (0~10).
Visiting the training room were 145 players; of these 36 were treated for pain (including one with dislocation of the hip joint a fall in an indoor shower in the player's village) and 109 were treated for exhaustion. As to the effect of treatments, mean intensities of pain were 7.67±1.9 and 5.92±2.0 on the face scale before and after treatment, respectively. The difference of 1.8±1.1 was significant. Mean magnitudes of exhaustion were 6.29±2.1 and 3.63±1.7 on the face scale before and after treatment, respectively. The difference of 2.7±1.3 was also significant. Thus, our treatments significantly ameliorated both pain and exhaustion.
One year after the games, a questionnaire was sent to players who had visited the trainer room to determine if there had been changes in symptoms during the 1-year period. In response to the questionnaire, 61% answered that their symptoms had persisted until the time of the survey or that they could not give an unequivocal answer. This result suggests the need for long-term support for such players.
