High injury rate mars event as medics keep busy

LEGEND: Pauline Purser at 91 was one of the oldest athletes competing at the New Zealand Masters Games in Dunedin.PHOTO/FILE

The Southern Trust NZ Masters Games under way in Dunedin has been blighted by injuries.

The Sports Injury Clinic co-ordinator Graeme Harvey said he and his medic team had treated 200 competitors with injuries.

"I have an English medical student working in the injury clinic and she says this would never happen in the UK," Harvey said. "The majority of competitors do come prepared with some physical training behind them and they do engage in warm-up exercises before they play, however, because of the competitive nature of the sports it tends to be the excess force they apply on the day that leads to injuries.

"People won't believe they are as old as they are."

Most injuries have been lower-leg related such as hamstrings, pulled muscles and ankle sprains.

During the first two days last weekend, the two largest team competitions, netball and football, were held. Football, with 800 competitors, had 25 injuries on the first day and has been the only sport to date where an injured player has had to be referred to hospital (neck injury). Netball had 30 injuries on the first day.

Harvey expects the list of injuries to grow later this week when ice hockey, basketball, touch and futsal matches begin.

One competitor enjoying the rudest of health is 91-year-old Pauline Purser from Tauranga.

While injury-free at these games, Pauline has had her fair share of injuries, including a broken pelvis and two hips replaced. She was competing at the Masters Games throwing the hammer, discus, javelin and shot put.

When asked why she does the throws, she exclaimed: "I still have two good arms."

The Master Games are served by three doctors, seven physiotherapists and 15 sports medics. An extremely popular massage service is offered daily.