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Published on: June 10, 2025
A controlled prospective case control study of a prevention training program in female team handball players: the
Wolf Petersen1, Christoph Braun, Wiebke Bock
1Department of Trauma, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery, Westfalian Wilhelms University Münster, Waldeyerstr. 1, 48149 Münster, Germany. Wolf.Petersen@ukmuenster.de
Background:
Few authors have investigated the effectiveness of preventive intervention in European team handball.
Purpose:
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.
Study Design:
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.
