[Morbidity during the XVI Central American and Caribbean Games: Puerto Rican delegation, Mexico 1990].

The health services offered to the Puerto Rican Delegation during the XVI Central American and Caribbean Sports Games in México in 1990 included: medical, dental and psychological assistance, physical therapy and services on the playing field. From the consultation sheets completed during the Games we obtained information about the use of these services. The 336 members of the Puerto Rico Delegation in the village at México City had 1,838 encounters with the health team. Of these, 991 were medical consults, 55 group therapies, 466 physical therapy sessions and 326 encounters in the sports venues. Among the encounters for medical evaluation the most frequent problems were athletic injuries (318; 32.1%), respiratory problems (240; 24.2%), gastrointestinal conditions (126; 12.7%) and dental services (119; 12.0%). The most frequent athletic injuries were first degree strains (83; 26.1%), tendinitis (56; 17.6%), contusions (42; 13.2%), myositis (40; 12.6%) and first degree sprains (28; 8.8%). The health problems found were diversed and in the majority of cases mild in character, which can be attend by adequately trained on sports health primary health professionals.