Prevalence and Functional Burden of Musculoskeletal Problems in Elite National Team Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objectives: Musculoskeletal problems can impair athletic performance and training even when elite athletes remain active in sport. This study investigated the prevalence, anatomical distribution, and functional burden of current musculoskeletal problems among elite national team athletes. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, 257 athletes from 12 sporting disciplines training at the Taereung National Training Center, Republic of Korea, completed a self-administered questionnaire between October 2013 and February 2014. Current musculoskeletal problems were reported by 126 of 256 athletes (49.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 43.2–55.3%). Among 125 athletes with available injury-attribution responses, 98 attributed their musculoskeletal problems to injury (78.4%; 95% CI, 70.4–84.7%). Among athletes with musculoskeletal problems, 81.5% (95% CI, 73.7–87.3%) reported at least some interference with maximal performance (scores 2–4), including 30.6% (95% CI, 23.2–39.2%) with substantial-to-severe interference (scores 3–4). A perceived need to reduce training volume was reported by 70.6% (95% CI, 62.2–77.9%), including 23.8% (95% CI, 17.2–32.0%) with a substantial-to-severe need for reduction. The knee (40.5%), lumbar spine (38.9%), and ankle (38.9%) were the most frequently reported regions among athletes with musculoskeletal problems. Conclusions: Current musculoskeletal problems were common among participating national team athletes and were frequently accompanied by perceived interference with maximal performance and a perceived need to reduce training volume. These findings describe the perceived functional consequences of musculoskeletal problems across multiple sports within a centralized training environment.