Relying on muscular endurance, Netball contains rapid bursts of acceleration and change in direction, and jumping to receive a pass or interception. Within Australia, netball injuries represent 7% of adult and 4% of child sports related injuries. This makes Netball injuries being within the top ten reasons for individuals to go to the hospital emergency departments for both adults and children. Most injuries sustained by netball players are to the ankles, knees and hands.
ACL injury
The ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is a ligament deep within the knee joint and is one of the four most important ligaments for providing stability to the knee, and a rupture or tear of the ACL is the most debilitating knee injury. ACL injuries are classified as a soft tissue injury, as it effects the ligament, and most ACL injuries (80%) are indirect injuries, meaning they are instigated without the contact of another player. During netball, most ACL tears happen when a player pivots or lands incorrectly from a jump.
An ACL injury is commonly called a sprain, where the fibres of the ligament are stretched or torn. An ACL injury is classified in three different grades;
An ACL injury is commonly called a sprain, where the fibres of the ligament are stretched or torn. An ACL injury is classified in three different grades;
- Grade One Sprain - The fibres of the ligament are stretched but not torn, with the knee having a small amount of swelling and tenderness but not feeling unstable
- Grade Two Sprain - The fibres of the ligament are only partially torn with moderate tenderness and swelling of the knee. The knee may be weak and unable to support the strain of activity
- Grade Three Sprain - The fibres of the ligament have been entirely torn or ruptured and the ligament is now in two parts. The ligament cannot control knee movements, and the knee is quite swollen and tender
Shin splints
Shin splints (or Medial Tibial Tenoperiostitis) is a condition where the connective tissue joining the muscles to the inner shin bone are damaged or inflamed. The connective tissue responsible for attaching the calf muscles to the tibia is called the tenoperiosteum, and when the tension on the tenoperiosteum is too repetitive or forceful it causes the inflammation. Shin splints usually occur during activities that contain continuous walking, running or jumping , which places strain on the tenoperiosteum. Shin splints are classified as am overused soft tissue as it effects the muscle and tissue. There are two general areas where an individual may develop this injury; anterior shin splints, and posterior shin splints.
stress fracture
A stress fracture is an overuse hard tissue injury. Caused by repetitive strain, the muscles surrounding a bone become fatigued and unable to absorb shock. This leads to stress directly onto the bone and causes a small crack called a stress fracture. Continual activities that involve movements such as jumping or running can result in stress fractures. Stress fractures are mostly caused indirectly but indirect fractures can occur. Stress fractures can also be induced by increasing the intensity of an athletic activity, impacts of unfamiliar surfaces, improper equipment or increased physical stress. Stress fractures are commonly found in the weight-bearing bones of the lower leg and foot, with this area accounting for 50% of stress fractures. Whilst stress fractures can affect everyone of any age, studies have shown that women develop more stress fractures than men. This is believed to be the result of the "female athlete triad" consisting of; eating disorders, amenorrhoea and osteoporosis.
dislocated shoulder
A shoulder dislocation is a hard tissue injury that occurs in the shoulder. The shoulder is a ball and socket joint and a dislocated shoulder occurs when the entire ball of the upper arm (humerus) is forced entirely out of its normal position in the shoulder socket (gelnoid labrum). In severe shoulder dislocations, the muscles and fibres surrounding the dislocation can be torn and damaged causing further inflammation and pain. There are three ways that a shoulder can dislocate; forwards (anterior), backwards (posterior) and downwards (inferior). An anterior dislocation is the most common type of shoulder dislocation. Shoulder dislocations are commonly caused directly from a force outside the body like a collision between two players or a sudden force whilst the arm is in a vulnerable position.