Injuries in handball: Examination of the risk factors

Abstract

This paper examines the influence of selected risk factors on injuries among male players of competition handball. Data relating to risk factors were collected using a self-report questionnaire. The factors that were examined were age, height, weight, body mass index, field position, past sport experience, level of competition, pre-season conditioning, number of practices per week, frequency of participation in games, use of prophylactic equipment, use of stretching exercises, and technical training. The questionnaire was administered to 216 male handball players. Nearly half of the players (42.6% or n 0/92) reported that they had been injured during the previous two years. The injury incidence was 8.14 injuries per 1,000 game hours for the preceding two years. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the variables ''use of prophylactic equipment'' and the ''number of practices per week'' contributed significantly to the prediction of an injury in handball players. The results of this study suggest that it is possible to reduce injury occurrence by giving specific attention to players using prophylactic equipment and to the lower-competition-level players.

Injury Profile of Male and Female Senior and Youth Handball Players: A Systematic Review

“…Despite the multiple beneficial effects derived from handball practice, such as improvements in cardiovascular, metabolic, muscular and psychosocial health [4][5][6], this team sport presents a high injury risk [7], mainly due to its high-intensity specific demands (i.e., rapid changes of direction, jumps with abrupt landings and repetitive throws, as well as frequent physical contact among players [8,9]). Likewise, low physical fitness, incorrect technique, lack of flexibility, and also inadequate rehabilitation treatment of injuries have been reported as risk factors related to the occurrence of injuries [10,11]. Additionally, the high training volumes and intensities that youth players undertake to achieve sporting excellence seem to contribute to the increase of the injury incidence [10].…”

“…Likewise, low physical fitness, incorrect technique, lack of flexibility, and also inadequate rehabilitation treatment of injuries have been reported as risk factors related to the occurrence of injuries [10,11]. Additionally, the high training volumes and intensities that youth players undertake to achieve sporting excellence seem to contribute to the increase of the injury incidence [10]. In this regard, injuries are associated with negative consequences, such as a reduction of team success [12], an increment of costs related to treatments [13], and the risk of suffering new injuries [14].…”

A bibliometric review of the scientific production in handball

“…Handball is categorized as a contact sport where physical contact and aggressiveness is present in the game (Prieto & Gómez, 2012). These characteristics make handball a sport with a great incidence of injuries (Lindblad, Jensen, Terkelsen, & Helleland, 1993;Tsigilis & Hatzimanouil, 2005), which increases with performance level (Langevoort, Myklebust, Dvorak, & Junge, 2007). The following most common research topics were physical capacities and conditions, physiological variables measurement, performance and success variables, and sport technique.…”

The effect of gender in risk factors and characteristics of injuries in athletes of handball national teams

“…Furthermore field position is another factor over which there is conflicting evidence and refers to gender. Tsigilis and Hatzimanouil (2005) and Seil et al (1998), did not find any significant differences among the field positions in relation to the risk injury of male VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 4 | 2015 | 906 team handball players. On the other hand, Wedderkopp et al (1999) reported a higher injury incidence in female backcourt players, whereas Biener & Perka (1980) reported that middle-field females sustained more injuries.…”