Contact — but not foul play — dominates injury mechanisms in men's professional handball: a video match analysis of 580 injuries. Issue 16 (22nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luig, Patrick; Krutsch, Werner; Henke, Thomas; Klein, Christian; Bloch, Hendrik; Platen, Petra; Achenbach, Leonard
• Is Part Of: British journal of sports medicine. Volume 54:Issue 16(2020)
• Page Start: 984
• Page End: 990
• Publication Date: 2020-01-22
• Subjects: handball -- injury prevention -- contact sports; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-100250
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-3674

Abstract

Abstract : Aim: We aimed to identify patterns and mechanisms of injury situations in men's professional handball by means of video match analysis. Methods: Moderate and severe injuries (absence of >7 days) sustained in competition in one of six seasons (2010 to 2013 and 2014 to 2017) in men's professional handball were prospectively analysed with a newly developed standardised observation form. Season 2013 to 2014 was excluded because of missing video material. Results: 580 injuries were identified: 298 (51.4%) contact injuries, 151 (26.0%) indirect contact injuries and 131 (22.6%) non-contact injuries. Head (87.5%), hand (83.8%), shoulder (70.2%) and ankle (62.9%) injuries were mainly sustained during direct contact. Typical contact injuries included collision with an opponent's upper extremity or torso, and ankle injuries mainly consisted of foot-to-foot collisions. A large proportion (41.7%) of knee injuries were caused by indirect contact, whereas thigh injuries mainly occurred (56.4%) through non-contact mechanism. Wing (56.9%) and pivot (58.4%) players had the highest proportion of contact injuries, whereas backcourt players had a high proportion of indirect contact injuries (31.5%) and goalkeepers of non-contact injuries (48.9%). The injury proportion of foul play was 28.4%. Most injuries occurred in the central zone between the 6-metre and 9-metre lines (26.1%) and during the last 10 min of each match half (OR 1.71, p=0.016). Conclusions: In men's professional handball in a league setting, contact — but not foul play — was the most common mechanism associated with moderate and severe injuries. Head, hand, shoulder and ankle injury were mainly sustained during direct contact.