Positional related injury in elite female field hockey players

The aim of this paper is to examine injury patterns in elite female field hockey players, and to identify the injury rates of different playing positions so that preventative measures can be implemented. Based on available research it was hypothesised that goalkeepers and midfielders will have the highest rate of injury. However, after the injury data was collected from the team's physiotherapist, post 2003 hockey season, it was found that within the distribution of injuries by position, forwards had the greatest percentage (44%), followed by those positioned in the midfield (23%), goals (18%), and back (15%). The most common type of injury was categorised as bruising or inflammation (27%), predominantly occurring in the lower limb with most of these cases reported as shin splints. Other prevalent types of injury included joint sprains (119%) and muscle hypertonicity (19%) occurring in the ankle and thigh areas. A greater percentage of injuries occurred to the lower limb in this study, when compared to others. This may be due to the use of elite hockey players. Leading to more advanced stick control and accurate hitting, combined with the flatter surface of artificial turf - which all play and training was executed on. If accurate and comprehensible injury data on injury patterns for particular positions were available, more attention could be made to tailoring training and rehabilitation programs for positions susceptible to specific injuries. Theoretically, this should eventually lead to minimising the prevalence and severity of injury. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

cmaster

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Victoria University

Year dc:date.issued

2003

Author dc:creator

• Merrett, Anna

• 320000 Medical and Health Sciences
• School of Biomedical and Health Sciences

Language dc:language

en