Merete Møller1, Mette K Zebis2, Grethe Myklebust3, Martin Lind4, Niels Wedderkopp5, Sheree Bekker6. 1. Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark. Electronic address: memolller@health.sdu.dk. 2. Department of Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Psychomotor Therapy, Faculty of Health, University College Copenhagen, Denmark. 3. Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Norway. 4. Div. of Sportstraumatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. 5. Orthopedic Department, University Hospital of South West Jutland, Denmark; Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark. 6. Department for Health, University of Bath, United Kingdom.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the use of injury prevention exercises and injury prevention exercise programs in Danish youth handball and investigate coach and player experiences, beliefs and attitudes of injury and their prevention. DESIGN: A mixed-methods design consisting of cross-sectional quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. METHODS: We surveyed 481 youth (14-18 years old) handball players and their 33 coaches about their use of injury prevention exercises, and attitudes towards injury and their prevention. Additionally, we interviewed five coaches and three players about barriers and motivational factors for implementing injury prevention programs. RESULTS: Players (71%) and almost all coaches reported performing injury prevention exercises for the shoulder, knee, and ankle. Yet few players (4%) and coaches (1%) reported performing the established full injury prevention programs systematically. Players were willing to implement programs to reduce injury risk (84% agreed) and enhance performance (88% agreed). Key factors influencing program uptake were lack of awareness of evidence-based injury prevention programs and lack of handball-specific exercises. Coaches and players identified continued education and training as vital facilitators in this setting, and all coaches agreed that injury prevention should be an essential part of coach education. CONCLUSIONS: While Danish youth handball players and coaches seemed to recognize the importance of injury prevention, the use of established programs was marginal. Experiences, beliefs, and attitudes about injury and injury prevention influenced program uptake and should be addressed through continued education and training in this context in combination with making the programs more handball specific.
OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the use of injury prevention exercises and injury prevention exercise programs in Danish youth handball and investigate coach and player experiences, beliefs and attitudes of injury and their prevention. DESIGN: A mixed-methods design consisting of cross-sectional quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. METHODS: We surveyed 481 youth (14-18 years old) handball players and their 33 coaches about their use of injury prevention exercises, and attitudes towards injury and their prevention. Additionally, we interviewed five coaches and three players about barriers and motivational factors for implementing injury prevention programs. RESULTS: Players (71%) and almost all coaches reported performing injury prevention exercises for the shoulder, knee, and ankle. Yet few players (4%) and coaches (1%) reported performing the established full injury prevention programs systematically. Players were willing to implement programs to reduce injury risk (84% agreed) and enhance performance (88% agreed). Key factors influencing program uptake were lack of awareness of evidence-based injury prevention programs and lack of handball-specific exercises. Coaches and players identified continued education and training as vital facilitators in this setting, and all coaches agreed that injury prevention should be an essential part of coach education. CONCLUSIONS: While Danish youth handball players and coaches seemed to recognize the importance of injury prevention, the use of established programs was marginal. Experiences, beliefs, and attitudes about injury and injury prevention influenced program uptake and should be addressed through continued education and training in this context in combination with making the programs more handball specific.
Authors: Eva Ageberg; Eva M Brodin; Jennie Linnéll; Karin Moesch; Alex Donaldson; Emme Adébo; Anne Benjaminse; Johan Ekengren; Simon Granér; Urban Johnson; Karolina Lucander; Grethe Myklebust; Merete Møller; Ulrika Tranaeus; Sofia Bunke Journal: BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med Date: 2022-04-04
Authors: Mary Catherine Minnig; Lauren Hawkinson; Hayley J Root; Jeffrey Driban; Lindsay J DiStefano; Leigh Callahan; Kirsten R Ambrose; Jeffrey T Spang; Yvonne M Golightly Journal: BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med Date: 2022-09-27
Authors: Karin Moesch; Sofia Bunke; Jennie Linnéll; Eva M Brodin; Alex Donaldson; Eva Ageberg Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-14 Impact factor: 3.390