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Int J Sports Med 2020; 41(10): 652-660
DOI: 10.1055/a-1121-7635
Training & Testing

Functional Knee Performance Differences in Handball are Depending on Playing Class

Alina Rühlemann 
1   Chair of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University of Duisburg-Essen, Faculty of Medicine, Essen, Germany
,
Constantin Mayer
2   Department of Orthopaedics, Trauma and Reconstruction Surgery, St. Marien-Hospital Mülheim an der Ruhr, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
,
Marcel Haversath
3   Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, St. Vinzenz-Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
,
Marcus Jäger
1   Chair of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University of Duisburg-Essen, Faculty of Medicine, Essen, Germany
2   Department of Orthopaedics, Trauma and Reconstruction Surgery, St. Marien-Hospital Mülheim an der Ruhr, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
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Abstract

Handball is one of the most traumatic sports. The knee is the most commonly injured joint. To prevent knee injuries, optimal functional knee stability is of great importance. Nevertheless, there is still no consensus about objective criteria for knee function. Depending on playing class, injury rates seem to differ. The purpose of this study was to evaluate knee function in handball depending on playing class and to establish reference data for functional knee stability. 261 handball players (25.1±5.8 years) performed a functional test including two- and one-legged stability assessments, jump tests, speed and agility analysis. Except for balance, differences between playing classes were detected in all tests with superior performance of high-class players (Germany’s 1st (“Oberliga”) and 2nd (“Verbandsliga”) non-elite playing class). High-class players achieved significant better results in jumping height (p≤0.011–0.029), relative power per body weight in the two-legged counter movement jump (p≤0.023) and speed and agility tests (p≤0.001). This study illustrates the relevance of playing class specific screening. Sports and playing class-specific databases will help to identify individual deficits and strengths in order to prevent injury and increase performance. Moreover, objective criteria for return to sports can be established.

Key word

knee function - playing class - reference data - functional test battery - nonprofessional handball - return to sport criteria


Publication History

Received: 15 May 2019

Accepted: 08 February 2020

Article published online:
25 May 2020

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Stuttgart · New York

 

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