Injuries in Netball-A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background Netball is estimated to be played by more than 20 million people worldwide, but there is evidence of high injury incidence. A thorough understanding of the types and rates of netball injuries is essential for effective injury management and prevention strategies to be developed and implemented. This systematic review summarises the published findings with respect to injury types, participant characteristics and any identified risk factors for netball injuries. Methods A librarian-assisted computer search of seven scientific databases was conducted for studies reporting on netball injuries. Inclusion criteria were studies published in English, in peer-reviewed journals, which reported data on injuries and variables (e.g. age and competition level) that have been proposed as possibly associated with netball injury risk. Results Forty-six studies (43.5% prospective, 37% hospital/insurance records, 19.5% retrospective) from 45 articles were included after screening. The majority of studies (74%) were conducted in Australia or New Zealand. There was little consistency in the definition of ‘injury’. Elite or sub-elite level players were included in 69% of studies where the level of competition was reported. The duration of injury surveillance was generally related to the format of competition from which data were collected. Self-report questionnaires were used in 48% of studies and only 26% of studies used qualified health professionals to collect data courtside. Injuries to the ankle and knee were the most common (in 19 studies) although the incidence varied considerably across the studies (ankle 13–84% and knee 8–50% of injuries). Prevention of ankle and knee injuries should be a priority. Children sustained more upper limb injuries (e.g. fractures) compared with adults who sustained more lower limb injuries (e.g. ankle and knee sprains/strains). A large number of potential risk factors for injury in netball have been investigated in small numbers of studies. The main circumstances of injury are landings, collisions and falls. Conclusion Further studies should be directed towards recreational netball, reporting on injury incidence in players by age and utilising high-quality, standardised methods and criteria. Specific injury diagnosis and a better understanding of the circumstances and mechanisms of injury would provide more meaningful data for developing prevention strategies.

The epidemiology of injury and illness at the Vitality Netball World Cup 2019: an observational study

“…Our study [ankle (24%), lower leg (11%) and knee involvement (9%)] concur with previous findings on injury surveillance in netball reporting the lower limb, specifically the ankle and knee, as the most frequent anatomical region involved across all levels of experience [8,[12][13][14]16,17,21,[33][34][35][36]. Lateral ankle ligament sprains (17.4%) and finger sprains (8.7%) were the most common clinical diagnoses.…”

“…A further strength is the accurate and reliable documentation of captured data (i.e. not self-reported) [36] and that there was 100% compliance by medical staff. Limitations include a low number of injuries and illness, with possible explanations including under reporting of data by the team medical staff and the fact that a netball team consists of only 7 players (12 players per squad), only 16 teams competed (pre-set number at the NWC), and the tournament lasted only 10 days.…”

Body composition in professional female netball players within and between seasons: a cohort study

“…It is interesting to note that the bone mineral density of the participant cohort was higher than values reported for male rugby league players [29], and collegiate female basketball and volleyball players [31] emphasising the regular, high-strain mechanical loading that these athletes experience in training and competition [30,33]. Monitoring the development and maintenance of bone in netball athletes, particularly on return from extended rest due to injury, might be important given the decline in bone mineral density with periods of inactivity and the incidence of ankle and foot fractures in netball [34][35][36].…”

Responses of Tai Chi in Upper Limb Sports Injuries Rehabilitation on Young People

“…Compared with walking, jogging, and other sports, more intense sports such as basketball and football are more likely to cause sports injuries. 11 For the injured, the formation of sports injury will affect their follow-up exercise plan and easily interfere with their activities and daily life. This brings a lot of inconvenience to patients.…”