Injuries in Dutch elite field hockey players: A prospective cohort study

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports 2018-06, Vol.28 (6), p.1708-1714
• Main Authors: Delfino Barboza, S., Nauta, J., Pols, M. J., Mechelen, W., Verhagen, E. A. L. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Athletes; athletic injuries; Athletic Injuries - epidemiology; Cohort analysis; cumulative trauma disorders; Cumulative Trauma Disorders - epidemiology; epidemiological monitoring; Female; Field hockey; Hockey - injuries; Humans; Injuries; Male; Netherlands; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; sports medicine; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0905-7188; 1600-0838
• DOI: 10.1111/sms.13065

This study describes the prevalence, incidence density, severity, and nature of injuries in elite field hockey players over the Dutch 2015–2016 season. Eighty players answered a baseline questionnaire and were subsequently followed up every 2 weeks to report the hours spent on training/competition and experienced injuries, which were registered using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire on Health Problems. Of the 74 players included in the analysis, 52 (70%) reported 112 injuries. Eighty‐seven injuries (78%) received medical attention, and 56 (50%) led to training/competition time‐loss. Thirty‐four injuries (30%) hampered players’ availability to train and compete. Most of the injuries (74%) were not caused by any contact. The mean prevalence of injury was 29% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3–55) for all, 9% (95% CI 0–20) for acute, and 14% (95% CI 0–36) for overuse injuries. Players sustained 3.5 (95% CI 2.5–4.5) new acute injuries per 1000 hours of training and 12.3 (95% CI 7.6–17.0) per 1000 hours of competition. The median of the severity score was 28 from 100 (25%–75% interquartile range [IQR] 16–42) for all, 35 (IQR 23–53) for acute, and 21 (IQR 16–31) for overuse injuries. On average, 1 in 4 elite field hockey players experiences an injury within a 2‐week period during the season. Although acute injuries are common, overuse injuries pose a comparable problem in elite field hockey. As injuries are a burden on players’ health and may hamper performance and availability to train and compete, prevention is of great importance.