This Winter, your kids, partner, or other family members may be playing Netball, you may even be enjoying a game yourself! We’ve had a look at the types of injuries that occur from playing Netball and how they can be avoided. Netball is one of the most popular team sports in Australia, with the highest number of females taking part in the sport compared to other team sports in the country. It’s a game that requires muscular stamina and speedy movements to outsmart competitors, these include sudden changes in direction, jumping to catch or block a pass or catch a rebound after a goal has been shot.
Different Types Of Netball Injuries
- Most Netball injuries occur to the ankles, knees, and hands.
- Knee injuries can be the most serious and expensive, resulting in extended periods of time away from the game.
- Other injuries that can be sustained from playing Netball are sprains and strains, this excludes finger injuries that occur in the form of fractures or dislocations.
- Other injuries happen when participants fall over when playing the game, poor landing, exhaustion, being hit by the ball, and running into other players on the Netball court.
How To Manage Ankle Injuries
One of the most commonly injured sites in Netball players is the ankle. Due to the highly agile nature of these sports with quick direction changes, jumping, and landing there is a lot of load placed on the ankle and proprioception needed to be able to perform the elements of these sports. These injuries commonly occur from plantar flexion (toe pointed) and inversion (toes turned in), but are not limited to this.
One of the most commonly injured sites in Netball players is the ankle. Due to the highly agile nature of these sports with quick direction changes, jumping, and landing there is a lot of load placed on the ankle and proprioception needed to be able to perform the elements of these sports. These injuries commonly occur from plantar flexion (toe pointed) and inversion (toes turned in), but are not limited to this.
Regaining a full range of motion and strength through a combination of hands on Physiotherapy treatment and home exercise programs is important. During this period it is important to also start on proprioception and balance exercises involving standing on unstable surfaces such as wobble boards and mini-trampolines. It is important to not stop here!!
Functional exercises are the key to returning back to sport and managing chronic ankle sprains. These should include slow introductions back into running, agility exercises, double and single leg jumping and landing exercises, and running on uneven surfaces. For some people it is important to start training these initially without the distraction of using a basketball or netball, then when feeling comfortable progress to including these. Depending on the chronicity of the injury will depend on the time frame at which you will progress.
How to Avoid Ankle, Knee & Hand Injuries
Add exercises to your fitness program that will build up your speed, strength and resilience, particularly to the muscles around your ankles and feet.
Make an appointment to see your Physiotherapist so that they diagnose any musculo-skeletal issues that could potentially develop into a Netball injury.
Consult with your Physio, doctor or trainer to develop a series of warm up and cool down stretches that can be done before and after the game. This will ensure that your body is ready to hit the court and is sufficiently cooled down after the game has finished.
If you or someone that you know of has suffered from an injury due to playing Netball and would like some advice regarding the best way to recover from an injury and get back onto the Netball court, they can make a booking with one of our Physios at their nearest Core Physio location.
This blog was written by Nick Lagos from the City Physio practice.