Injury Mechanisms for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Team Handball

Abstract

Objective To describe the mechanisms for anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female team handball. Study Design Descriptive video analysis. Methods Twenty videotapes of anterior cruciate ligament injuries from Norwegian or international competition were collected from 12 seasons (1988-2000). Three medical doctors and 3 national team coaches systematically analyzed these videos to describe the injury mechanisms and playing situations. In addition, 32 anterior cruciate ligament-injured players in the 3 upper divisions in Norwegian team handball were interviewed during the 1998-1999 season to compare the injury characteristics between player recall and the video analysis. Results Two main injury mechanisms for anterior cruciate ligament injuries in team handball were identified. The most common (12 of 20 injuries), a plant-and-cut movement, occurred in every case with a forceful valgus and external or internal rotation with the knee close to full extension. The other main injury mechanism (4 of 20 injuries), a 1-legged jump shot landing, occurred with a forceful valgus and external rotation with the knee close to full extension. The results from the video analysis and questionnaire data were similar. Conclusions The injury mechanism for anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female team handball appeared to be a forceful valgus collapse with the knee close to full extension combined with external or internal rotation of the tibia.