Structured exercises to prevent lower limb injuries in young handball players

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Injury Prevention
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Handball involves high-impact movements, increasing the risk of knee and ankle injuries in young athletes.
• Previous research indicates a need for effective injury prevention strategies in team sports.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a structured warm-up program in decreasing knee and ankle injuries among teenage handball players.
• To assess the program's impact on overall injury rates in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A block randomized controlled trial was conducted with 1837 teenage handball players (aged 15-17).
• The intervention group (958 players) followed a 15-20 minute structured warm-up focusing on knee and ankle control.
• The control group (879 players) continued with their usual training methods. Injuries were recorded by blinded physiotherapists.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed a 50% reduction in acute knee and ankle injuries (RR, 0.53).
• Significant reductions were observed in lower limb injuries (RR, 0.51), all injuries (RR, 0.49), and upper limb injuries (RR, 0.37).
• Moderate and major injuries were significantly lower in the intervention group (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• A structured warm-up program effectively halved the rate of acute knee and ankle injuries in young handball players.
• The program demonstrated a significant reduction in overall injury incidence, highlighting its potential for widespread implementation.
• The findings underscore the importance of targeted warm-up protocols in preventing sports-related injuries in adolescent athletes.