INJURY PREVENTION IN TEAM SPORTS - A SURVEY OF EXISTENCE AND SHAPE

Background: Physical activity is important at any age but unfortunately sports results in a lot of damages. 15% of all recorded injuries at emergency departments in Sweden are sports injuries the most common injury amongst children under 16 year. Many studies have been conducted to investigate how best to avoid sports injuries, but the question is whether this knowledge translated into practice in sports clubs. Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence and degree of injury prevention in various team sports (football, handball, ice hockey and floor ball). In addition, it aims to describe the prevalence of injury prevention among different ages and genders. Method: Questionnaire survey in spring 2010. The questionnaire was self-developed and the study group consisted of 42 teams in ice hockey, football, handball and floor ball. The teams was established in Skåne and the age range of the teams ranged from 12 years up to the senior teams. Results: The results showed that injury prevention is used in football, handball, ice hockey and floor ball, but to varying degrees. Heating and stretching before or after training and matches was used frequently by all teams in all sports. Other prevention measures differed between the different sports. Football and handball focused mainly on stretching and strength training, and jumping and landing exercises in handball. Floor ball had generally lower averages in the majority of the areas, but its results in stability training was relatively high. Ice hockey teams had the highest averages in general and focused mainly on stretching and balance training. Mental training, jumping and landing training, balance training and stability training was used to a small extent. Senior teams used the injury prevention more than the youth teams. The difference between the sexes could be mainly seen among the youth teams. 57 % of the teams had cooperation with medical professionals and in 21% of those teams, this person had any part in the injury prevention training. Conclusion: Injury prevention is used by the sports clubs, but not as much. This is despite the high injury rate and despite several studies that have investigated and determined appropriate preventive measures. Comparison of the results was complicated because the response alternatives in the survey and the absence of teams with girls in ice hockey. But the results that the study shows were that ice hockey was the sport that used the most injury prevention, and there was a clear difference between the senior and youth teams. The difference between boys and girls were mainly seen in the youth teams where guys and girls focused on different areas. The majority of the coaches who participated in the study had some kind of trainer education, and we therefore believe that education about the injuries and its prevention should be included at the start of training steps.