Squash injury countermeasures: A review of the literature

Abstract

Squash is one of the most popular sports played in Australia with 1.25 million playing the sport. Squash is a highly competitive sport, demanding a high level of fitness from its players, as they are usually active for the majority of the playing time. Injuries sustained during squash account for only a small proportion of the total injuries to sports participants. However, squash ranks as one of the sports most associated with severe injury. Overview of the literature indicates four major categories of squash injury: musculoskeletal, eye and head injuries, heat illness, cardiac injury and death. Injuries to the eye and surrounding facial structures are the major cause of severe injuries presenting to hospitals for treatment. In contrast, squash injury presentations at sports medicine clinics are most commonly associated with musculoskeletal problems. Whilst cardiac and heat injuries are rare in sport, when they do occur, they are often associated with squash. These findings are also supported by Victorian squash injury data. Critical review of both formal literature and informal sources has shown that many injury prevention measures can be implemented to help reduce th66e risk of injury in this sport. Effective prevention of squash injuries needs to be based on an understanding of the inherent nature of the sport, its players and the external environment. Prevention of injuries in squash involves a number of factors such as physical conditioning, screening, specific training, warm-up/cool-down routines, skill development and general safety considerations. Review of the literature has shown that there have been few formal, controlled evaluations of countermeasures for the prevention of squash injuries. Further research and countermeasure developments are therefore needed. These findings are also relevant in rural settings where squash participation is also common. Squash is one of the most popular sports played in Australia with 1.25 million playing the sport. Squash is a highly competitive sport, demanding a high level of fitness from its players, as they are usually active for the majority of the playing time. Injuries sustained during squash account for only a small proportion of the total injuries to sports participants. However, squash ranks as one of the sports most associated with severe injury. Overview of the literature indicates four major categories of squash injury: musculoskeletal, eye and head injuries, heat illness, cardiac injury and death. Injuries to the eye and surrounding facial structures are the major cause of severe injuries presenting to hospitals for treatment. In contrast, squash injury presentations at sports medicine clinics are most commonly associated with musculoskeletal problems. Whilst cardiac and heat injuries are rare in sport, when they do occur, they are often associated with squash. These findings are also supported by Victorian squash injury data. Critical review of both formal literature and informal sources has shown that many injury prevention measures can be implemented to help reduce th66e risk of injury in this sport. Effective prevention of squash injuries needs to be based on an understanding of the inherent nature of the sport, its players and the external environment. Prevention of injuries in squash involves a number of factors such as physical conditioning, screening, specific training, warm-up/cool-down routines, skill development and general safety considerations. Review of the literature has shown that there have been few formal, controlled evaluations of countermeasures for the prevention of squash injuries. Further research and countermeasure developments are therefore needed. These findings are also relevant in rural settings where squash participation is also common.