[Functional Knee Stability in Handball: An Indispensable Criterion For Safe Sport]

Abstract

Various studies in recent years have shown that, within ball sports, handball players have a high risk of accidents and injuries. The knee joint is the most frequently injured body region, and ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament the most common injury to the knee. To prevent consequential damage or recurrent knee injury, good functional stability of the knee is of high importance. Stability not only prevents injuries, but is also crucial for optimising handball-specific movements. Although there are numerous studies on injuries in handball - mostly performed on professional athletes - the field of research focusing on functional knee stability is deficient. This article provides an overview of the current state of research and discusses existing prevention approaches.