Types And Regions of Musculoskeletal Injuries among Pakistani Field Hockey Players: An Association with Playing Position

Correlation Of Types of Musculoskeletal Injuries and Playing positions among male field Hockey Players of Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Hockey players in comparison to other field sports have a higher risk of physical injuries due to great demand of physical activity together with twisting and bending, long duration standing, perpetual movement of upper limb and forceful strategic movements of body segments leading to an increased probability of joint and muscular damage.

Objective: The aim was to document the association of playing positions with the regions and type of injuries among field hockey players in Pakistan. It was also aimed at identifying the injury rates among different playing positions. An understanding of these patterns may provide evidence to develop guidelines for physiotherapists and coaches to make injuries prevention strategies in these conditions.

Methodology: A total of 136 male hockey players in Pakistan, ages between 16 and 45 years were served a standard questionnaire. Additional information on player’s age, experience, playing position, type of injury, frequently injured body area and dominant hand usage during play was documented and used for statistical inference.

Results: Mean (±SD) age of the players was 22.9 (±6.55) with 50% having 1-3 years of playing experience. The occurrence of lower limb injuries was 30.1%. Low back pain was reported by 25.7% of the players. Comparing overall occurrence of injuries, anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, meniscal injuries were at the peak level (38.23%) followed by ankle sprain (19.11%), rotator cuff injuries (18.38%), dislocations (13.97%) and fractures (10.29%), respectively.

Conclusion: There is a significant association of playing positions with regions and types of injuries. Ankle and knee as well as lower back are the most recurrent injury sites. Strikers as well as midfielders have equal likelihood of injuries. Strain and sprain found to be the commonest type of injuries among the hockey players.

Keywords: Hockey players, playing positions, pattern, body segments, common Injuries