The services of the Otago Sports Injury Clinic were required exactly 400 times at the last New Zealand Masters Games in Dunedin.
Given the official head count for the 2010 event was 6404, one might expect that to have equated to, roughly, 7% of those whose athletic ambitions stretched the boundaries of physiological pragmatism.
Thankfully, the clinic's team of physios and sports medics actually treated just 0.9% of all competitors.
Some of those who suffered injuries sought help from the clinic's medics on more than one occasion, sometimes over a series of days and for injuries subsequently sustained in a sport different from the one in which they were initially hurt.
To put it another way, some people are suckers for punishment.
At this juncture, I feel it only fair to put my hand up, to acknowledge that, come the end of today's opening rounds of the Masters Games (which continue until Sunday, February 12), the aforementioned category might well include a certain 43-year-old hockey player.
For, along with approximately another 6000 people, I have entered the valley of the shadow of sport ... and fear an injury (perhaps two).
It might be difficult to accept, but there is a point in life when, like it or not, the body slows down, when we step beyond the threshold of maximum physical potential.
Take a look at those who hold world records, Olympic-bests and the rest. They are, in general, between 20 and 35 years of age. Thus, the glint of golden achievement offers more sobering reflection.
"There are times when human beings have to sit down and realise that when age comes along, you have to be a bit more respectful of the body," says Graeme Harvey, co-ordinator of the Otago Sports Injury Clinic, whose doctors, physiotherapists and other sports medics have volunteered their time and expertise to New Zealand Master Games entrants since the early 1990s.
"I think a 51-year-old has to realise that he or she is no longer 21 ... Preparation is one thing; realisation is the other.
"Calf and hamstring strains are the predominant injuries," Mr Harvey explains.
"Ruptured Achilles tendons feature fairly highly in sports such as soccer and netball ... It goes with the ageing of the tissues and ligaments.
"Obviously, we don't deal with heart attacks, strokes or motor accidents, but we can take the load off the emergency department [at Dunedin Hospital]. A dislocated thumb is not an emergency."
Neither is a dislocated ego, though it does hurt.
Yet there are other ways to minimise the effects of ageing (botox, liposuction and other invasive approaches notwithstanding).
Muscle mass, endurance, speed, strength and flexibility are attributes that can be trained - and therefore improved.
Physiotherapist Graeme Moginie, of Dunedin-based company Back in Motion which, among other initiatives, has been offering pilates classes specifically aimed at Masters Games entrants for the past few months, says a well-planned training programme is the best way to avoid sprains and strains.
A prime candidate for injury is someone (like me) who has started the year with the idea of using the Masters Games as a motivational tool, an early stepping-stone on the path to greater fitness.
The problem, Mr Moginie says, is that a training programme should encompass months, not weeks. Whoops ...
"At the end of the day, after one month, your body has probably had some training, has gone through a stress cycle and a bit of fatigue has come into play; that's the body putting on more muscle tissue.
"You are going to be at risk going into the event only partially trained, because your muscles might be a bit strained and you haven't gone through a recovery phase to rebuild and get a bit stronger," Mr Moginie says.
"Your performance might actually be worse than had you rested a bit more [provided a lengthy training schedule had been adhered to].
"It's better to feel a bit fresher than a bit tired; you're not going to get any fitter by squeezing in another run in the last week.
"As Christmas ends and the Masters Games looms, some people suddenly think they have to crack on and do some sprints around the block like they used to do when they were 20.
"Suddenly, bang! They've done a hamstring.
"We see it all the time: people are going for a ball and they strain a body part. Or instead of playing more tactically and passing the ball, they drive for the goal.
"I think we are all in a bit of denial about getting older."
As we age, we have less elasticity in our tissues and, generally, less muscle bulk; tendons can be a bit weaker, too.
All of this means the older athlete is less able to handle the sudden shocks, torsional loads, impacts or twists that arise in many sports.
"I remember seeing one guy who was in his 50s and I think half his soccer team went down with injuries. I asked him, `Do you do warm-ups?'. He said, `No, we just turn up and start playing.' I don't think they had a team in the end," Mr Moginie recalls.
"This is a bit of a plug, but if you are someone who hasn't done a lot of training and is competitive and is planning on chasing a ball around, it might pay to see a physiotherapist who is orientated towards sports assessment; they can give you practical advice in a short space of time."
Despite his warnings, Mr Moginie stresses he - and other physiotherapists - encourage activity in the wider community.
"We want to encourage people to have a fitness goal.
"That's half the battle. If people can reduce weight, improve muscle tone, drop their cholesterol, and improve their cardiovascular capacity it all contributes to better health.
:Therefore having targets such as fun activities over a week in Dunedin is just brilliant.
"Usually, the health benefits far outweigh the stresses and strains that can occur. There is always an unfortunate group who might rupture an Achilles tendon and be out for three months, but that happens anyway. You might step off something and your Achilles goes, so you shouldn't be deterred."
Ken Hodge, associate professor in sport and exercise psychology at the University of Otago's School of Physical Education, has done plenty of research into what motivates Masters Games athletes.
In 2008 he co-authored an article, "Motivation in Masters Sport: Achievement and social goals", published in the academic journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise, which examined achievement goals, social goals and motivational links among nearly 400 athletes, whose ages ranged from 29 to 77.
"In general, these Masters athletes ... enjoyed their participation, they were committed, they had high perceptions of ability and belonging, and they were predominantly intrinsically motivated," the article states.
"These findings echo the Masters Games philosophy regarding `sport for life' and the promotion of a long-term approach towards sport and physical activity participation.
Finally, these findings also reflect the Masters Games claim that Masters `sport' is both a sporting and a social occasion for the participants.
"Clearly, participation in Masters sport is becoming increasingly popular and for many of these participants their 'sport' participation may be their primary means of remaining physically active in middle-age and older adulthood."
Aaron Joy, manager of the Masters Games in Dunedin for the past nine years (this is his last event), says the reasons for entering the event are as varied as the sports on offer.
Some regard the Masters Games as a way to meet old friends (or make new ones); others view it as a component in an ongoing fitness regime; then there are those who, not content with being the best they can be, are striving to be the best. Full stop.
"What I've realised is that people might say they are just using the event as a guide - 'Throw me in a team and I'll have a go' - but suddenly, they think they are 18 years old again.
"It's interesting. People say they can play social sport, but when that whistle goes everyone's ambitions come to the fore.
"There are a few walking wounded, I can tell you that. Some people say it takes them a year to get ready again for the next games."
The 2012 New Zealand Masters Games begin in Dunedin today and continue until Sunday, February 12.
