Handball is a ball game played at high speeds with consistent physical contact, as the players are required to make full use of their bodies in both offense and defense. Both instantaneous power and endurance are needed, and it is important to have physical power and to be able to overcome sports injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of physical strength on the occurrence of acute and overuse chronic injuries in male players of the National Handball Team of Japan. Methods: Thirty-one male players of the Japanese National Handball Team underwent examinations of physical strength and multiple medical examinations, and their injuries were retrospectively registered over a 5-year period from 1992 to 1996. The relationship between the data of physical strength and the results of the occurrence of injuries was analyzed statistically. Results and conclusions: There was an average of 1.87 episodes of acute or overuse chronic injuries per player, including 19 lumbar disorder, 13 sprained ankles, 12 jumper's knees, 12 shooting shoulder injuries and 7 acute finger injuries. In regards to severity, 13 episodes (12.6%) were serious, defined by requisite treatment or further detailed examination. Players with flexible spine while standing showed a lower rate of acute or overuse chronic njuries as well as of fewer sprained ankles, and a higher incidence of loose shoulders. The incidence of hamstring injuries, acute or overuse chronic injuries of the legs were high in players whose flexor/extensor ratio of knee isokinetic leg muscle power (60 deg/sec) was low. Players with a low back muscle power index (back muscle power/body weight) showed a tendency toward a high frequency of lumbar disorders. These findings lend credence to the presumption that careful consideration given to achieving physical flexibility and well-balanced muscle power is of the essence in the prevention of acute or overuse chronic injuries.
© Copyright 1999 5th IOC World Congress on Sport Sciences with the Annual Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport 1999. Alle Rechte vorbehalten. / Übersetzt mit https://www.DeepL.com/Translator