Hand injuries in sports.

ABSTRACT

A five-year analysis of sports-related hand injuries that occurred at the Sports Science Center, Sports Authority of Thailand, was carried out. Out of a total of 6,477 injuries, 466 (7.2%) incurred hand injuries. Injuries of the wrist accounted for 53.43 percent of the numbers; of the palm 24.9 percents, and of the fingers 21.7 percnet. Gymnastics was the sport most commonly involved, 16.1 percent of the 25 types accounting for hand injuries. Over 60 percent of the wrist injuries involved badminton, tennis, gymnastics and football, and over 50 percent of the finger in volleyball players, whereas 70.2 percent of the wrist (48.1%), was the most common condition resulting from trauma; it was found among the gymnasts in 20.4 percent of the cases. Tendonitis was due to the over-use syndrome and commonly occurred at the wrist (86.9%) as a result of gymnastics (28.3%). This clinical research work could be used as guidelines for the prevention of possible injuries during sporting activities and would enhance rehabilitation programs aimed at strengthening hand functions, thus enabling athletes to further participate in sports activities, particularly competitive sports.