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=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. © 2005 European College of Sport Science.