Injuries to elite male water polo players over a 13-yr period. The purpose of this study was to analyze retrospectively all injuries occurring in a population of elite male water polo players over a 13-yr period to determine their pattern of injury. The medical records of all male water polo players at the Australian Institute of Sport from 1985 to May 1998 inclusive were reviewed and all injuries noted. Injuries were categorized according to their association with matches, training or otherwise, as well as their anatomical location, their mechanism, whether acute or overuse in onset and whether they proceeded to chronicity or not. The study found a significant incidence of shoulder, hand, head and face, and elbow injuries. Shoulder injuries were most likely to become chronic. Elite male water polo players have little risk of major injury but mild and moderate injuries are common.
© Copyright 1999 5th IOC World Congress on Sport Sciences with the Annual Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport 1999. All rights reserved.