Injuries in Dutch elite field hockey players: A prospective cohort study. (27th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Delfino Barboza, S.; Nauta, J.; van der Pols, M. J.; van Mechelen, W.; Verhagen, E. A. L. M.
• Is Part Of: Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports. Volume 28:Number 6(2018)
• Page Start: 1708
• Page End: 1714
• Publication Date: 2018-02-27
• Subjects: athletic injuries -- cumulative trauma disorders -- epidemiological monitoring -- field hockey -- prevalence -- sports medicine; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Sports -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1111/sms.13065
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0905-7188

Abstract

Abstract : This study describes the prevalence, incidence density, severity, and nature of injuries in elite field hockey players over the Dutch 2015–2016 season. Eighty players answered a baseline questionnaire and were subsequently followed up every 2 weeks to report the hours spent on training/competition and experienced injuries, which were registered using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire on Health Problems. Of the 74 players included in the analysis, 52 (70%) reported 112 injuries. Eighty‐seven injuries (78%) received medical attention, and 56 (50%) led to training/competition time‐loss. Thirty‐four injuries (30%) hampered players' availability to train and compete. Most of the injuries (74%) were not caused by any contact. The mean prevalence of injury was 29% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3–55) for all, 9% (95% CI 0–20) for acute, and 14% (95% CI 0–36) for overuse injuries. Players sustained 3.5 (95% CI 2.5–4.5) new acute injuries per 1000 hours of training and 12.3 (95% CI 7.6–17.0) per 1000 hours of competition. The median of the severity score was 28 from 100 (25%–75% interquartile range [IQR] 16–42) for all, 35 (IQR 23–53) for acute, and 21 (IQR 16–31) for overuse injuries. On average, 1 in 4 elite field hockey players experiences an injury within a 2‐week period during the season. Although acute injuries are common, overuse injuries pose a comparable problem in elite field hockey. As injuries are a burden on players' health and may hamper performance and availability to train and compete, prevention is of great importance.