A controlled prospective case control study of a prevention training program in female team handball players: the German experience.
BACKGROUND
Few authors have investigated the effectiveness of preventive intervention in European team handball.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a prevention program on the incidence of injuries in female European team handball players.


METHODS
Prospective controlled study.


METHODS
Ten female handball teams (134 players) took part in the prevention program (1. Information about injury mechanism, 2. Balance-board exercises, 3. Jump training) while 10 other teams (142 players) were instructed to train as usual. Over one season all injuries were documented weekly.


RESULTS
Ankle sprain was the most frequent diagnosis in both groups with 11 ankle sprains in the control group and 7 ankle sprains in the intervention group (Odds ratio: 0.55, 95% confidence interval: 0.22-1.43). The knee was the second frequent injury site. In the control group 5 of all knee injuries were anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures (incidence: 0.21 per 1000 h) in comparison with one in the intervention group (incidence: 0.04 per 1000 h). Odds ratio was 0.17 with 95% confidence interval of 0.02-1.5.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms that proprioceptive and neuromuscular training is appropriate for the prevention of knee and ankle injuries among female European team handball players.
Petersen
Wolf
W
Department of Trauma, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery, Westfalian Wilhelms University Münster, Waldeyerstr. 1, 48149 Münster, Germany. Wolf.Petersen@ukmuenster.de
Braun
Christoph
C
Bock
Wiebke
W
Schmidt
Kirsten
K
Weimann
Andre
A
Drescher
Wolf
W
Eiling
Elisabeth
E
Stange
Richard
R
Fuchs
Thomas
T
Hedderich
Jürgen
J
Zantop
Thore
T
D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies