What are the Common Injuries in Netball? How to prevent them?

Injuries in Netball

Netball is the most popular team based sport in Australia. Netball has been described as a game reliant on rapid acceleration to "break free" from an opponent, sudden and rapid changes in direction in combination with leaps to receive a pass, intercept a ball or rebound after attempting a goal (Steele and Milburn 1987).

Netball places many demands on the technical and physical skills of the player and, as a result, injuries can and do occur.


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How Frequent is Injury in Netball?

• In Australia, netball represents 7% of adult and 4% of child sports related injuries presenting to hospital emergency departments.

• In Australia, netball ranks 7th for adults and 8th for children in terms of sport related injuries presenting to hospital emergency departments.

• In Victoria, the severity of approximately 4% of adult and 3% of child netball injuries, presenting to emergency departments, warrants hospital admission.

In Australia, 95% of adult and 85% of child netball injuries occur during organised competition and practice.

What are the Common Causes and Types of Netball Injuries?

• Adult netball players most often sustain injuries to the ankles, knees and hands.

• Child injury is most often to the hands and/or particularly to the fingers, followed by the ankle.

• Knee injuries are generally the most severe and costly injuries associated with netball.

• Overall, netball injuries are mostly sprains and strains with the exception of finger injuries that tend to be fractures or dislocations.

• Falls, incorrect landing, over-exertion, overuse, collisions with other players and being struck by the ball are common causes of injury.

Safety Tips for Netball

Good Preparation

• Undertake appropriate fitness programs with a focus on netball exercises to develop strength, co-ordination and flexibility, especially of muscles around the ankles and feet.

• Conduct fitness testing prior to competition to ensure readiness to play netball.

• Seek pre-participation screening by a professional (eg sports physiotherapist) to identify potential musculo-skeletal problems that may contribute to overuse injuries in netball.

• Warm up dynamically before competition and training to ensure the body is prepared for play.

• Cool down and stretch after training or playing netball.

Good Technique Help Prevent Injury

• Incorporate specific netball exercises in training focusing on enhancing body balance, control on landing, moving forwards and catching passes.

• Coaches should undergo regular education updates to ensure they have the latest information about correct playing techniques.

If an Injury Occurs

• Ensure players seek prompt attention from a qualified first aid provider or health practitioner.

• Ensure all injured netball players receive adequate treatment and full rehabilitation before they resume play.

Safe Equipment

• Ensure goal posts are firmly fixed to the ground with no parts of the post protruding onto the court surface posing a trip hazard.

• Ensure goal posts are padded.

• Check and maintain netball surfaces regularly to eliminate hazards (e.g. loose gravel)

• Avoid playing netball on slippery surfaces.

• Choose footwear carefully, preferably with professional advice from your Podiatrist or Physiotherapist.

Common Netball Injuries in Detail

Achilles Tendon Rupture

Achilles Tendonitis / Tendinitis

ACL Tear

Acromioclavicular Joint Injury

Adductor Tendinopathy

Back Muscle Pain

Biceps Tendonitis

BPPV - Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Bulging Disc

Calf Muscle Tears

Chondromalacia Patella

Corked Thigh (Bruised Quadriceps)

Degenerative Disc Disease

Facet Joint Pain

Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)

Gluteal Tendinopathy

Groin Strain

Hamstring Strain

Heel Spurs (Calcaneal Spurs)

High Ankle Sprain

Hip Arthritis (Osteoarthritis)

Hip Labral Tear

Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome

Knee Arthritis

Knee Bursitis (Patellar Bursitis)

Knee Ligament Injury

Knee Meniscus Injury

Metatarsalgia

Muscle Pain: Strains or Tears

Neck Headache

Osgood Schlatter's Disease

Osteitis Pubis

Overuse Injuries

Patella Tendonitis (Tendinopathy)

Patellofemoral Pain (Kneecap Pain)

Pinched Nerve

Piriformis Syndrome

Plantar Fasciitis

Poor Hip Core

Quadriceps (Thigh) Muscle Strain

Rotator Cuff Impingement

Rotator Cuff Injury

Rotator Cuff Tear

Sacroiliac Joint - SIJ Pain

Sciatica

Severs Disease

Shin Splints

Shoulder Bursitis

Shoulder Dislocation

Shoulder Tendonitis

Sinding Larsen Johansson Syndrome

Spondylolisthesis

Sprained Ankle

Stress Fracture

Thumb Sprain

TMJ Dysfunction (TMD) - Jaw Pain or Clicking

Trochanteric Bursitis (Hip Bursitis)

Common Treatments for Netball Injuries

• Early Treatment

• Avoid the HARM Factors

• What are the Healing Phases for a Soft Tissue Injury?

• What to do after a Muscle Strain or Ligament Sprain

• Acupuncture and Dry Needling

• What is Sub-Acute Soft Tissue Injury Treatment?

• Core Stability Exercises

• Scapular Stabilisation Exercises

• Rotator Cuff Strengthening Exercises

• Closed Kinetic Chain Exercises

• Active Foot Posture Correction Exercises

• Gait Re-Education

• Biomechanical Analysis

• Balance Enhancement Exercises

• Proprioception & Balance Exercises

• Agility & Sport-Specific Exercises

• Medications?

• Orthotics

• Real-Time Ultrasound Retraining

• Soft Tissue Massage

• Walking Boot

• Electrotherapy & Local Modalities

• Heating Pads

• How to Strap an Ankle

• Joint Pain Relief Techniques

• Kinesiology Taping

• Neurodynamics / Neuro Mobilisation

• Prehabilitation

• Strengthening Exercises

• Stretching Exercises

• Support Brace

• Supportive Taping & Strapping

• TENS Machines

Helpful Products for Netball Injuries

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