Browsing by Author "Lubega, Samuel K."

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A descriptive prospective study of sports medicine practices for athletes in Uganda
    (African Health Sciences, 2021) Lubega, Samuel K.; Makubuya, Timothy; Muwonge, Haruna; Lambert, Mike
    Background: Many international sporting organizations have recommended practices to reduce the risk of injury. These practices include screening for injury, having appropriate emergency medical care, and protocols for managing injury before return-to-play. The extent of the uptake of these practices in a developing country such as Uganda, is unknown. Methodology: Using a descriptive case study approach, this investigation focused on a sample of injured athletes (n= 75) in Uganda from four main sports associations (football, athletics, basketball and rugby). The data were collected through observations and interviews after the injury. Using a best medical practice framework the phases of emergency, intermediate, rehabilitative, and return-to-sports participation were described. Result: Nine conditions/types of injury were included. The results revealed a lack of specific pre-season screening or re-turn-to-play readiness for all the injured athletes. Further, there was a lack of application of best practice principles for most of the injury types. For athletes who received medical care, the results show inconsistencies and inadequacies from the acute stage of the injury to return-to-sports participation. Conclusion: This study identified barriers such as up-to-date knowledge among the sports resource providers; the gaps for appropriate and adequate specific facilities for managing injured athletes, and policies to mandate care of injured athletes. These barriers detract from applying best medical practices.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The Relative Risk for Sports Injuries based on Pre-Participation Health Evaluation in Uganda
    (J Sports Med, 2006) Lubega, Samuel K.; Timothy Makubuya
    The aim of this study was to examine the relative risk of sports injuries based on preparticipation health evaluation among Uganda athletes. This prospective cohort included 546 athletes,= or> 18 years old, who were free from injury. We examined the relative risk of injuries from 4 main sports (soccer/football, n= 161, track and field, n= 106, basketball, n= 120 and rugby, n= 159) and the likelihood for sports injury based on pre-participation health evaluation (PPHE) using Pearson’s Chi square test. After a one year follow up, seventy-five lost-time injuries (n= 75) were reported. There was an increased risk of sports injuries among athletes who didn’t undergo PPHE. The relative risk (RR) for sports injuries in athletes without PPHE was greater in rugby (RR= 21.8, 95% CI, 13.6-33.88), followed by soccer/football (RR= 21.6, 95% CI, 3.1-33.78), followed by track and field (RR= 14.1, 95% CI, 9.0-23.17) and basketball (RR= 12.2, 95% CI, 7.56 to 19.63). Our chi square tests revealed that the association between injury risk among athletes exposed to injury based on their PPHE was greater and significant among athletes in track and field (X2= 23.2, p=. 01), followed by rugby (X2= 12.9, p=. 02), and basketball (X2= 10.8, p=. 02). Pre-participation health evaluation is an important risk factor in sports injury acquisition. Our findings reveal gaps in practice among personnel involved in the prevention of sports-related injuries in Uganda, thus warranting specific sports regulations.