Handball injuries. An epidemiological and socioeconomic study

A total of 570 injuries in handball players were prospectively registered in a well-defined geographical area of 124,321 inhabitants. The incidence of handball injuries was 46/10,000 inhabitants/year and in females (61/10,000/year) double that for males (31/10,000/year). Sixty-two percent of the injuries were distortions and sprains and 12% were fractures. A total of 7% were hospitalised and the loss of income because of sick leave was in total $3870. Sixty-eight percent of the injured handball players did not play for more than one week. Surprisingly, 8% of the minor injuries resulted in a risk leave of more than six days. Five percent of these injured quit a tournament of training after sustaining a handball injury.