Atypical acute injuries in powerlifting – review

Abstract

Powerlifting has been gaining increasing popularity among professionals and amateurs. This sport consists of three events - barbell squat, bench press, and deadlift - where maximum strength in a single repetition is assessed. Powerlifters experience both acute and overuse injuries. Among typical injuries, one can distinguish biceps femoris, quadriceps femoris, or pectoralis major rupture during the deadlift; pectoralis major or triceps brachii rupture and humerus dislocation during the bench press; and quadriceps or biceps femoris ruptures and spiral fractures of the tibia and fibula in the squat. Among atypical injuries, clavicle, scaphoid, talus, acetabular, and avulsion fractures, like Clay-Shoveler's, are notable. Most atypical injuries are treated conservatively through immobilization. Proper technique, accurate body posture, adequate warm-up, joint mobility enhancement, and appropriate weight selection with gradual increases can help prevent or reduce the frequency of injuries in powerlifting. Injuries are more common among novice powerlifters, with a predominance of males. Muscle strains are the most frequent traumas.
The main aim of the paper is to summarize atypical acture injuries in powerlifters, including clavicle, scaphoid, talus and acetabular fractures, and also avulsion fractures like Clay-Shoveler's type.