En kvalitativ studie om handbollens utveckling och ökningen av korsbandsskador : A qualitative study about the development of handball and the increase in cruciate ligament injuries

In the past decades handball has gone through a large development. The game has developed into a faster, more intense and physically challenging format. At the same time an increase in cruciate ligament injuries is reported in the sport. This study aims to investigate whether the sportification of handball has had an impact on the incidence of cruciate ligament injuries with a perspective from 1960 to the present day in Swedish elite handball. The goal is to generate new knowledge that can be used by coaches, medical personnel and decision-makers to design injury prevention measures.The study has a qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews as the data collection method. A total of seven interviews were conducted with people who have long experience in elite handball activities. Players, coaches and physiotherapists were interviewed. The theoretical framework is based on sportification, a theory where sport is moving towards becoming more extreme. The study analyzes changes in the character of the game and materials/technology in handball.The results show that the sportification of handball affects the players movement patterns through increased tempo and physique. Rule changes, technical aids and increased training intensity have created a game where quick decisions and explosive movements are central. Which increases the risk of injuries such as cruciate ligament injuries. Especially situations when the players are tired or during periods of high load are the risks that seem to be highest. The study also shows that young players today train in a more specialized and one-sided way. This can affect the tendency to get injured. A large part of the handball experts in the study believe that changes in how the game is performed and the development of equipment/material have an impact on the incident of cruciate ligament injuries.The conclusion is that the sportification of handball is likely a contributing factor to the increase in cruciate ligament injuries. This development requires increased awareness of load and recovery in both youth and elite handball. Further research is suggested in areas such as gender-specific injury risk, early specialization and implementation of injury-preventive training models.