Injury Patterns in Portuguese Under-23 and Senior Rink Hockey Athletes: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Epidemiology
• Traumatology

Background:

• Rink hockey is a high-intensity sport with increasing participation in Portugal.
• Limited epidemiological data exists on injuries in senior and under-23 rink hockey players.
• This study addresses the gap by examining injury patterns in Portuguese rink hockey athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively describe injury occurrence and characteristics in Portuguese rink hockey players.
• To identify potential associations between injuries and demographic/sport-related variables.
• To inform the development of targeted injury prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective, cross-sectional e-survey was administered to federated Portuguese rink hockey players (under-23 and senior).
• The survey collected data on sociodemographics, sport participation, equipment, training loads, and injury history.
• Statistical analyses included injury prevalence, incidence rates, and association analyses.

Main Results:

• Nearly half of the 181 respondents (49.2%) reported at least one injury.
• The knee was the most common injury site (19.1%), followed by muscular injuries (25.8%).
• Injuries frequently occurred during matches due to player contact, particularly during offensive transitions near the goal.
• Older age, female sex, and greater playing experience were associated with injury occurrence, though experience correlated with lower joint injury odds.

Conclusions:

• Portuguese rink hockey players face a significant injury burden, with knee and muscle injuries being prevalent.
• Mechanisms include player contact and overuse, with age, sex, and experience as key influencing factors.
• Findings support integrating targeted prevention strategies within sports medicine support teams.