Types and incidences of sport injuries in male volleyball and handball players

Abstract

AbstractSport training has many positive aspects but it may also cause negative results. Injuries are intrinsic to the practice of physical exercise. The aim of the study was to determine the types and incidence of injuries in volleyball and handball players. Subject and methods. 71 professional volleyball and handball players took part in the study. The age of sportsmen ranged between 19 and 40 years. The authors’ own questionnaire used in the study-composed of two parts. One incorporated demographic data, and the other contained questions related to types of sport injuries, their locations, types of treatment, and the length of the injury-related break from training. Results. Handball players suffered more injuries than volleyball players. The most frequent injury in both studied groups was ankle sprain. Tearings of muscles, tendons, and ligaments, fractures, and bruising are more common in handball players than volleyball players. Lower limbs were the most affected body parts in both disciplines. Landing was the main reason of damage. The majority of respondents used physiotherapy treatment after the sport injury. Conclusion. There was an average of 3.7 injuries among handball players and 2.9 among volleyball players. The principal injury in both groups was ankle sprain. Tearings of muscles, tendons, ligaments, as well as fractures and bruising are more common in handball players than volleyball players. Lower limbs were the most affected body parts in both groups. Injury to the trunk, head, and neck appeared the least frequently. In both groups of respondents, the injuries were mostly incurred during landing. The majority of participants used physiotherapy treatments after injury. Laser treatment and cryotherapy were the most frequently chosen physiotherapy treatments, with manual therapy used the least.