Acute Injuries in Handball
For injury prevention in handball it is essential to be familiar with some of the statistical data related to the frequency of injuries and most common causes of injuries. That’s why it is very important to present and share this publication about acute injuries in handball to as many coaches, players and goalkeepers as possible.
Therefore I decided to present the most essential parts of the work “Acute injuries in handball” by Patrick Luigi and Thomas Henke.
So please, spread the word about this important piece of work, share the information, be part of positive change and help other coaches learn more about acute injuries in handball.
This work is one of the many works from the collection of research papers and works that were presented at the EHF Scientific Conference 2011, Science and Analytical Expertise in Handball (Scientific and practical approaches), held 18-19 November 2011 in Vienna, Austria.
Handball, with its dynamic rhythm, demands high athletic conditioning, including endurance, strength, flexibility, and notably, exceptional acceleration, deceleration, jumping, and throwing capabilities. This requirement not only showcases the sport’s intense physicality but also underlines the risks associated with it.
P. Luig and T. Henke’s research offers crucial insights into the landscape of acute injuries within handball, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted injury prevention strategies. I will try to unpack the key findings and recommendations from their comprehensive study in this blog post.
The Painful Reality of Injuries in Handball
This study highlights an alarming estimate of at least 320,000 handball injuries occurring annually in Europe alone, costing between €250 to €400 million in medical treatments. This staggering statistic underscores the physical toll of the sport, with injuries being a significant concern for players at all levels. The research shows that acute injury rates in handball are around 1.5 – 2.0 injuries per 1000 hours of exposure, with match incidences being ten times higher than training incidences.
Injury Patterns and Vulnerabilities
A detailed analysis of 8,520 handball injuries reveals that the knee and ankle joints, alongside the head and hand/wrist regions, are predominantly affected. The study further delineates a gender-based disparity in injury patterns, with women being significantly more prone to knee injuries. The severity of injuries varies, with sprains being the most common, followed by contusions and strains. Importantly, the risk of injury escalates in contact situations, particularly during jumps, landings, and fast directional changes.
The Crucial Role of Injury Prevention
The findings advocate for a proactive approach to injury prevention, emphasizing the need to address both contact and non-contact injury risks. For contact injuries, measures like mouthguards and prophylactic finger tapes are suggested to mitigate minor injuries. However, the real challenge lies in preventing non-contact injuries, which are often more severe. A multifaceted training encompassing functional strengthening, core stabilization, agility, neuromuscular, and proprioceptive training, alongside technique training for key movement patterns, is considered to be beneficial.
Moving Forward – Awareness, Acceptance, and Action
Despite growing knowledge on injury prevention, the handball community’s full engagement with these practices remains elusive. The research stresses the importance of educating coaches and players about effective injury prevention measures and integrating these strategies into regular training and recovery routines. Federations, clubs, and coaches bear a critical responsibility in protecting their athletes, particularly through adequate preparation and regeneration surrounding major international events.
Conclusion
Luig & Henke’s research not only sheds light on the prevalent issue of acute injuries in handball but also charts a path toward mitigating these risks through informed, preventive strategies. As the handball community continues to evolve, embracing a culture of safety and injury prevention will be pivotal in protecting the well-being of its athletes, ensuring they can perform at their peak without the looming threat of injury.
This comprehensive analysis serves as a call to action for the handball world to prioritize health and safety through strategic injury prevention, ultimately fostering a more resilient and thriving handball community.
You can find more about the “Acute injuries in handball” research work here.
Additional Thoughts
This whole topic initiates one of the most important questions about the risk goalkeepers are exposed to, when it comes to head injuries caused by shots in the head.
In my coaching and professional active career, I knew about many goalkeepers who have sustained concussions (mild or more severe) several times in their career. Unfortunately, in handball community – to sustain a concussion is almost considered to be like “I broke a nail”. It seems that no one recognizes the seriousness of this problem.
But we need to consider these questions:
- What are the actual long term consequences of repetitive head injuries?
- What are the ways to prevent the head injuries?
- What can we, and what should we do in order to help goalkeepers when it comes to this topic?
Here you can read my entire post about concussions in handball.
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4 Responses
Hi, I’m a goalkeeper and i’m 18 years old. To me a shot in the head is like you said “I broke my nail” i got last year 6 balls in the head and 3 of them hit my nose. I’m beginning to worry what will happen next time? becuse every time a ball hits my nose its coming more and more blood. I’m lucky its still straight butt will I be as lucky as before on next training/game? I don’t know what should be done butt i’m hoping someone does.
This is for sure serious matter! And I am worried because it seems that nobody is giving it enough attention. Before we get more knowledge, and information about this whole subject – try to be safe, and at least visit a doctor if the shots in head are really strong, or if the bleeding was long.
Have you had any other problems after those head shots? Such as: headache or a feeling of pressure in the head; temporary loss of consciousness; dizziness; ringing in the ears; nausea; sensitivity to light or noise???
Good morning. Sorry, but what about shoulder and elbow? Did you forget these two major joins which have a determinant role in the sport?
Hello Rod, thank you for your comment. As it’s stated in the text: “This is the extract from EHF Scientific Conference 2011, Science and Analytical Expertise in Handball (Scientific and practical approaches), held 18-19 November 2011 in Vienna, Austria. ACUTE INJURIES IN HANDBALL, by Patrick LUIG & Thomas HENKE”. The work they have done is about acute injuries, and it’s based on the analysis of 8,520 handball injuries among 14 to 45 year old athletes.
So the work is not mine. And besides, in the table in the middle of the text you have also % of elbow and shoulder injuries in different age groups. 🙂