Open AccessFemale adolescent elite handball players are more susceptible to shoulder problems than their male counterparts
Author(s) -
Asker Martin,
Holm Lena W.,
Källberg Henrik,
Waldén Markus,
Skillgate Eva
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.806
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1433-7347
pISSN - 0942-2056
DOI - 10.1007/s00167-018-4857-y
Subject(s) - medicine , physical therapy , confidence interval , demography , elite , sociology , politics , political science , law
Purpose Shoulder problems are frequent among senior elite handball players. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of shoulder problems among adolescent elite handball players and to investigate potential differences in gender, school grade, playing position and playing level. Methods During the 2014 and 2015 pre‐season periods, 471 players (age 15–18 years, 54% female) completed a comprehensive baseline questionnaire regarding history of any shoulder pain and shoulder problems experienced during the past season. The players were monitored weekly for one competition season (September–April) regarding shoulder problems and the amount of match and training. Generalised linear models with a binomial link function were used to calculate a prevalence ratio (PR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) to compare the subgroups of players. Results In total, 110 players (23%) reported having substantial shoulder problems (defined as moderate/severe reduction in training volume, or moderate/severe reduction in performance, or complete inability to participate) at some point during the follow‐up season, of which almost half reported complete inability to participate. Of those players reporting substantial problems, 43% (95% CI 39–48) did so for at least 3 consecutive weeks during the season. The prevalence was significantly higher in female players (PR 1.46, 95% 1.04–2.06) and in backcourt players (PR 1.58, 95% CI 1.08–2.32), but no differences were found for school grade (PR 1.21 95% CI 0.88–1.67) or playing level (PR 1.09 95% CI 0.76–1.56). Conclusions The prevalence of substantial shoulder problems in adolescent elite handball players is high, especially among females, and this warrants further studies on risk factors for shoulder injury and the development of prevention strategies in handball players already before the age of 15. These findings also highlight the importance of introducing a clinical monitoring programme on a routine basis and improving the medical support, taking gender‐related aspects into consideration, at handball‐profiled secondary schools. Level of evidence II.