ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2013 April;172(4):269-74

Copyright © 2013 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Children’s sports injuries in ball sports

Karlo R. ¹, Župancic B. ², Jagic S. ³, Antabak A. ⁴, Bukviae N. ⁵, Nikoliae H. ⁵

¹ Department of Surgery, Zadar General Hospital, Zadar, Croatia; ² Clinic for Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; ³ University of Zadar, Zadar, Croatia; ⁴ Department of Surgery University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; ⁵ Children’s Hospital Rijeka, University Center, Rijeka, Croatia

Aim: At an early age children commence varying sport like activities. Ball games such as football, basketball, handball and volleyball are among the most popular. Unfortunately, sport participants are prone to injuries which may cause serious harm therefore, it is important to note and properly treat the injuries at an early observable stage.
Methods: Children who were actively participating in these sorts of games were observed throughout a span of two seasons. These children were separated according to their age and the type of sports they play. The training methods were noted, as well as the conditions which might contribute to their injuries.
Results: Of the sports included in this research, the largest proportion played football. These children spent the most hours in training therefore had the highest physical load. Of all the sports monitored, the most common were limb injuries. Ankle injuries were common for football players, wrist and hand injuries were common for basketball, handball and volleyball players.
Conclusion: Children’s sports injuries are very common; one in three playing sports is injured. Insufficient physical conditioning, improper training and neglecting previous injuries are the most common causes of sports injuries. By electing proper training methods and education, the number of injuries, as well as the severity, can be reduced.