2017 ISAKOS Biennial Congress ePoster #2409

 

Upper Extremity Injuries In Elite Female Water Polo - An Epidemiological Study

Noemi Szakacs, MD, Budapest Hungary HUNGARY
Attila Pavlik, MD, PhD, Budapest, - HUNGARY
András Tállay, MD, PhD, Budapest HUNGARY

National Institute for Sports Medicine, Budapest, HUNGARY

FDA Status Not Applicable

Summary

An epidemiological study of the upper extremity injuries of professional female water polo players

Abstract

Objectives: Female water polo celebrated its 5th Olympic cycle at the Olympic Games in Rio, and it is undoubtedly gaining more popularity. However, few studies exist on the injury patterns of female water polo. Water polo is a unique combination of swimming, throwing and wrestling. The upper extremity is thought to be the most injured body part. The purpose of our study is to determine the most common upper extremity injuries and their characteristic in female water polo.

Methods

In a retrospective study we analyzed the medical records of 148 adult and junior elite female water polo players from 2010 to 2016 and collected the musculoskeletal injuries, with a special focus on the upper extremity. We subcategorized the injuries by localization, we separated acute and overuse injuries. Only those injuries were included in the study which caused more than five consecutive days out of training.

Results

From 2010 to 2016 148 adult and junior water polo players sustained 209 musculoskeletal injuries. Among this, 145 injuries occurred at the upper extremity. We recorded 40 shoulder, 26 elbow, 4 forearm, 18 wrist and 57 hand injuries. 19 injuries needed surgical intervention - 10 shoulder, 1 elbow, 1 forearm, 3 wrist, 4 hand. Out of the 40 shoulder injuries, 10 injuries required surgical repair, and 32 injuries considered to be an overuse injury (80%). More than half of the hand injuries were acute injuries, including 29 finger fractures and 13 ligament injuries. However, in the subgroup of hand injuries only 4 cases needed surgery.

Conclusions

Based on our results, upper extremity injuries are very common in female water polo – 69%; 13% required surgical intervention, 87% were treated conservatively. Comparing to previous studies where the injuries in male water polo was described, shoulder injuries among female athletes seem to be more frequent - multidirectional instability of the shoulder is more common and the rehabilitation requires more time to return to sport. Finger fractures are extremely common, but the majority heal with conservative treatment. With an appropriate prevention program a significant part of the overuse shoulder injuries would be preventable, thus we recommend the introduction in the regular training program in the youth and adult players to decrease the time out of training and competing.