| Severity, Mechanism and Types of Knee, Ankle, and Shoulder Injuries of Female Volleyball and Handball Players in Iran Premier League |
| Paper ID : 1587-SPORTCONGRESS |
| Authors |
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Elahe mousavi *, Mohammad Hosein Alizadeh, Erfan Shakiba Department of Sports Injuries and Biomechanics ،Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health ,University of Tehran , Tehran, Iran |
| Abstract |
| Background: Sports-related musculoskeletal injuries significantly affect athletes’ performance, longevity, and health. Female volleyball and handball players are particularly prone to knee, ankle, and shoulder injuries. Despite increased participating of Iranian female athletes, epidemiological data on injuries has been limited. This study compared severity, mechanism and types of injuries in elite female volleyball and handball players in Iran Premier League. Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective study included all female athletes competing in the Iran Premier League of volleyball (n = 150) and handball (n = 149). Injury data were collected through an online questionnaire based on the IOC standardized injury surveillance form (1). Variables included injury severity, affected joint, mechanism, context (training vs. match), and types of injuries. Descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) were used to summarize injury characteristics, and Chi-square tests were applied to compare categorical variables between the two sports. All analyses were conducted using SPSS version 25, with the significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: Among 299 female athletes, 236 (78.9%) reported injuries, mainly affecting the knee (36.5%), ankle (27.5%), and shoulder (25%). Volleyball injuries were mostly acute (31.4%) and non-contact (29.7%), whereas handball injuries were acute (28.8%) or chronic (23.7%) and mainly contact-related (37.7%). Most injuries occurred during training (57.6%), with 83.5% losing play time. Chi-square tests showed significant differences in severity (p < 0.001), mechanism (p < 0.001), and types (p < 0.001) between the two sports. Discussion: Injury severity, mechanism, and type differed significantly between volleyball and handball. The knee, ankle, and shoulder were the most commonly affected joints. Volleyball injuries were mainly acute and non-contact, whereas handball injuries included both acute and chronic, mostly contact-related. Most injuries occurred during training, causing time loss. These findings emphasize the need for sport-specific, evidence-based prevention programs focusing on neuromuscular control, proper technique, and reduced contact exposure. |
| Keywords |
| Injuries, Epidemiology, Female Athletes |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
