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INJURY PREVENTION IN TEAM SPORTS - A SURVEY OF EXISTENCE AND SHAPE
Authors: Dr. Ali Faleh Salman
Number of views: 337
Abstract
Background: Physical activity is important at any age but unfortunately sports results in a lot of damages.
15% of all recorded injuries at emergency departments in Sweden are sports injuries the most
common injury amongst children under 16 year. Many studies have been conducted to investigate
how best to avoid sports injuries, but the question is whether this knowledge translated into practice
in sports clubs.
Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence and degree of injury prevention in various
team sports (football, handball, ice hockey and floor ball). In addition, it aims to describe the
prevalence of injury prevention among different ages and genders.
Method: Questionnaire survey in spring 2010. The questionnaire was self-developed and the study
group consisted of 42 teams in ice hockey, football, handball and floor ball. The teams was established
in Skåne and the age range of the teams ranged from 12 years up to the senior teams.
Results: The results showed that injury prevention is used in football, handball, ice hockey and floor
ball, but to varying degrees. Heating and stretching before or after training and matches was used
frequently by all teams in all sports. Other prevention measures differed between the different
sports. Football and handball focused mainly on stretching and strength training, and jumping and
landing exercises in handball. Floor ball had generally lower averages in the majority of the areas, but
its results in stability training was relatively high. Ice hockey teams had the highest averages in general
and focused mainly on stretching and balance training. Mental training, jumping and landing
training, balance training and stability training was used to a small extent. Senior teams used the injury
prevention more than the youth teams. The difference between the sexes could be mainly seen
among the youth teams. 57 % of the teams had cooperation with medical professionals and in 21% of
those teams, this person had any part in the injury prevention training.
Conclusion: Injury prevention is used by the sports clubs, but not as much. This is despite the high injury
rate and despite several studies that have investigated and determined appropriate preventive
measures. Comparison of the results was complicated because the response alternatives in the survey
and the absence of teams with girls in ice hockey. But the results that the study shows were that
ice hockey was the sport that used the most injury prevention, and there was a clear difference between
the senior and youth teams. The difference between boys and girls were mainly seen in the
youth teams where guys and girls focused on different areas. The majority of the coaches who participated
in the study had some kind of trainer education, and we therefore believe that education
about the injuries and its prevention should be included at the start of training steps.