Racquetball. A game with preventable injuries

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Traumatology
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Racquetball is a popular sport with a notable incidence of player injuries.
• Facial and ocular trauma represent significant concerns in racquetball participation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the patterns and causes of racquetball-related injuries.
• To identify risk factors associated with racquetball injuries.
• To propose preventative measures for reducing racquetball injuries.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 157 identified racquetball injuries.
• Data collection focused on injury location, player experience level, and protective equipment usage.

Main Results:

• Eighty-two injuries involved the face; ocular injuries may be underreported.
• Novice players experienced facial trauma more frequently.
• Protective facial equipment was used by only 9.9% of injured players; 23.1% had prior lessons.

Conclusions:

• Player education on injury prevention and mandatory protective equipment use are recommended.
• Modifications to existing protective facial equipment designs could further decrease injury rates.