Higher-level archers and those in a squad report fewer overuse injuries

The summary today

There is one study, from 2018, and it points this way. Among 62 high-level recurve archers, 40 at the German indoor championships and 22 at the European outdoor championships, 71.8% of the former and 36.4% of the latter had had at least one overuse injury in their career (p = 0.007), and those attached to a national or regional squad reported fewer of them (p = 0.006). The difference holds even though the archers at the European championships shot far more, 696.5 arrows a week against 273.7, and at heavier draw weights, 42.9 lb against 38.5. Age is not associated with injury, although the archers at the German championships were older. The weakness lies in the design: a retrospective questionnaire covering whole careers, a comparison between groups and not a causal link. The authors read it mainly as the effect of better coaching, but they acknowledge themselves that the direction could be reversed: archers who avoid injury are more likely to reach the top level and stay there.

Also phrased as: "elite archers get injured less"; "squad membership protects against injury"; "archers who shoot more get hurt less"; "overuse injuries and archer level"

Evidence

• 2018
  For Archers Published later

  62 recurve archers from eight countries, 40 at the German indoor championships and 22 at the 2012 European outdoor championships, retrospective questionnaire covering whole careers: at least one overuse injury in 71.8% of the former (28 archers) and 36.4% of the latter (8 of 22), p = 0.007. The European-level archers trained more, 5.1 sessions and 696.5 arrows a week against 2.8 and 273.7 (p ≤ 0.001), and at heavier draw weights, 42.9 lb against 38.5 (p = 0.003). It is a comparison between groups, not a causal link.

  Acute and Overuse Injuries in Elite Archers · Claudia K. Niestroj, Volker Schöffl, Thomas Küpper

• 2018
  For Archers Published later

  In the same sample, archers attached to a training squad, national or regional, reported fewer overuse injuries (p = 0.006). The authors conclude that top athletes supported by good training conditions are less exposed, but they also mention the opposite reading: only archers who have avoided injury may remain among the successful ones. The study cannot tell the two apart. Same study as the previous line: it counts once.

  Acute and Overuse Injuries in Elite Archers · Claudia K. Niestroj, Volker Schöffl, Thomas Küpper

• 2018
  Context Archers Published later

  The archers at the German championships were significantly older than those at the European championships, but in the sample there is no correlation between age and the occurrence of overuse injuries. The authors note that only a comparison group of the same age would have settled the point.

  Acute and Overuse Injuries in Elite Archers · Claudia K. Niestroj, Volker Schöffl, Thomas Küpper

Status history

1. 2018 Reported A single study opens the question: among 62 high-level recurve archers, 36.4% of those competing at the European championships had had at least one overuse injury against 71.8% of those at the German championships, and archers attached to a federation squad report fewer of them, despite shooting more arrows at heavier draw weights. In the same sample age is not associated with injury, so simple ageing does not explain the difference. One sample and a retrospective questionnaire, with the direction of cause still open: reported.

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