Injury mechanisms for anterior cruciate ligament injuries in team handball: a systematic video analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the mechanisms for anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female team handball.


METHODS
Descriptive video analysis.


METHODS
Twenty videotapes of anterior cruciate ligament injuries from Norwegian or international competition were collected from 12 seasons (1988-2000). Three medical doctors and 3 national team coaches systematically analyzed these videos to describe the injury mechanisms and playing situations. In addition, 32 anterior cruciate ligament-injured players in the 3 upper divisions in Norwegian team handball were interviewed during the 1998-1999 season to compare the injury characteristics between player recall and the video analysis.


RESULTS
Two main injury mechanisms for anterior cruciate ligament injuries in team handball were identified. The most common (12 of 20 injuries), a plant-and-cut movement, occurred in every case with a forceful valgus and external or internal rotation with the knee close to full extension. The other main injury mechanism (4 of 20 injuries), a 1-legged jump shot landing, occurred with a forceful valgus and external rotation with the knee close to full extension. The results from the video analysis and questionnaire data were similar.


CONCLUSIONS
The injury mechanism for anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female team handball appeared to be a forceful valgus collapse with the knee close to full extension combined with external or internal rotation of the tibia.
Olsen
Odd-Egil
OE
Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, Norwegian University of Sport and Physical Education, PO Box 4014 US, 0806 Oslo, Norway. odd-egil.olsen@nih.no
Myklebust
Grethe
G
Engebretsen
Lars
L
Bahr
Roald
R
D000328:Adult; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014743:Videotape Recording