Injuries in beachhandball

Given that the beachhandball is relatively unexplored sports discipline, we can expect more scientific research to be published on this topic. In the meantime, we bring the work of Mr. Bebetsos and associates who studied themes of injuries in our beloved sport.

Hoeberigs, van Galen and Philipsen (1986) believed that each sport should have its model of injuries that might be more or less determined. Knowledge about this model could be very important for planning medical care that should be provided, and it could be very important to define factors that cause injuries in a particular sport. Hielsen and Yde (1988.) agree with this statement and believe that the knowledge of sports injuries and rehabilitation is poor, both for athletes and coaches. Further through history, many other experts engaged with the theme of athletes` injuries and came to the conclusion that they are extremely important in the life of every athlete because they disable them in training, competition and actually everything they do. Asembo and Wekesa (1998.) uphold that the injuries in handball are inevitable and believe that, for specific handball injury, appropriate measures of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation should be carried out. Special feature of beachhandball is environment in which the matches take place: sand, high temperatures and several games per day. Handball includes movement which causes stress of locomotor system so injuries can occur. Probability of injuries is increased by frequent and intensive contacts with opponent, too. There shouldn`t be such contacts in beachhandball, but in passion of the game with lots of adrenaline anything can happen. A model of injuries, which should exist for each sport separately, needs to be classified into subgroups of athletes, so the risk of each subgroup can be explicitly determined to carry out specific measures of prevention. To achieve this, scientific research should be more specialised, therefore results of these studies could produce effective precautious measures and programs of prevention.

George S. Bebetsos-author of article

Gentlemen, Kostas Manavis, Eleftherios Stefas (Hellenic Handball Federation, the Medical Commission), Dimitris Hatzimanouil (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Dept. Of Physical Education and Sports Science) and George S. Bebetsos (Federation, Beach Handball Commission) have made research on injuries of beachhandball players. The questionnaire was given to 96 beachhandball players, which participated in the European Championship held 2007. in Italy, which they had to fill. The questionnaire was specially composed for this research, and it was linked to injuries of athletes that have been received during training or competition in the past two years . Injury is defined as any event that has led to medical problem and made injured one absent for at least one day with training / match. At the beginning of the questionnaire each participant was required to give information on the height, weight, age and participation in this sport in the past two years. Injuries were classified into 4 categories: mild (one week absence), moderate (1-2 weeks), serious (2-4 weeks) and heavy (more than 4 weeks). Then, there were the question of medical treatment and whether the injuries came back, and in the end, of all the conditions in which the injury had occurred (surface terrain…). The results were as follows: average of 25.4 years, 88.84 kg of weight, height 187.75 cm, the average lifetime of training was 3.7 by 2.4 trainings weekly, 15.5% of players had at least one injury in the past two years, and 14.2% of these, two injuries. Goalkeepers and wings suffered from the most(71%) of the injuries. The conditions in which injuries occured were sand, high temperatures and playing several games per day. Most injuries were similar (85.7%). Ligaments of lower limbs (57%) and torso (42.8%) were injured in most cases. The main reason for injury is a violent contact with the opposing player (71.4%). Most injuries occurred during a match (57.1%) ,71.4% during the attack period. Severity of the injuries is given in the following table:

Diagnosis were placed in hospitals (42.8%) by doctors (85.7%)in the next several hours after the injury (42.8%). Percentage of players who had to be hospitalised is 57.1%. Most players followed a standard treatment, and that is physiotherapy (ice and ultrasound) and medications. Most of them obeyed doctor`s advice (87.5%) to complete the rehabilitation. 27% of those who had suffered from heavier injuries experienced pain and difficulties while walking. Most players (57.1%) returned after recovery. Most of them returned healthy after 3 weeks, and, for almost anyone (92.8%), injury haven`t returned.

This was only one research on only 96 players. Naturally, there is still much, much to explore in order to assist players to pass with less injuries and to enjoy the game more. And for that we need to intrigue many with this beautiful and attractive game.. Until then .. take care;)