Injuries in a Developing Sport, Cachibol (Newcomb Ball)

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Epidemiology
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Cachibol is a rapidly growing team sport, particularly among women in Israel.
• Epidemiological data on cachibol-related injuries are currently limited.
• The sport shares similarities with volleyball but has unique characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence and severity of injuries in adult female cachibol players.
• To identify common injury sites and mechanisms in cachibol.
• To assess the long-term impact of cachibol injuries.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional survey and observational cohort study design.
• Involved 612 amateur female cachibol players during a national tournament.
• Utilized questionnaires for past injuries and recorded tournament-related injuries (58% response rate).

Main Results:

• Fingers are the most frequently injured body part, primarily from direct ball impact.
• Over 50% of finger injuries resulted in long-term discomfort.
• Ankles and knees were the next most common injury sites, leading to significant absence from sports and work.

Conclusions:

• Cachibol exhibits a higher rate of finger injuries compared to volleyball due to its unique playing style.
• The increasing popularity of cachibol necessitates attention to injury prevention.
• Findings can inform the development of targeted injury prevention strategies for cachibol players.