Korfball

Korfball is played outdoors (field korfball) and indoors. Field korfball is played on natural and artificial grass. According to the rules, no physical contact is permitted during korfball, but it does occur regularly in practice. The numerous jumping duels and twisting movements necessary during play increase the risk of sport injuries. The most commonly occurring injuries in Korfball are ankle, knee and thumb injuries.

Ankle
The most commonly occurring injury in korfball is a sprained or twisted ankle. In most cases, the injury occurs following a landing on the outside of the foot whereby the foot twists too far inwards. On the outside of the foot, capsula, ligaments and nerve fibre can be damaged due to overstretching. On the inside cartilage can be damaged by excessive compression. Depending on the seriousness of the injury, the tissue on the outside is either stretched or torn. This damage causes bleeding in the ankle. As a result, the ankle swells, (after a short time) bruises and becomes painful.

The damaged tissue heals naturally just like a wound on the skin. However, muscle and nerve fibre does not automatically regain its original function. Muscle and nerve fibre must be trained. This is possible with simple balance exercises. In addition, the ankle must be protected to prevent the risk of recurrence. A Push Sports Ankle Brace is an excellent solution.

Knee
The knee is a joint susceptible to injury. The knee joint can be damaged through twisting. In such a twisting incident (cruciate) ligaments and meniscus tissue can be damaged. Injury to the meniscus can cause swelling and it may no longer be possible to correctly bend and extend the knee. Serious injury to the cruciate ligaments often causes internal bleeding or accumulation of fluid. The knee then feels swollen and warm, is painful and no longer moves well. In the event of a serious twisted knee , cruciate ligaments and the inner meniscus are often both damaged. If injury to the cruciate ligaments is suspected, it is important that the correct diagnosis be made by a sport physician and/or sport physiotherapist.

During and following recovery from a knee injury, it may be worthwhile to protect the knee (during sport) with a Push Sports Knee Brace.

Quadriceps
The attachment of this muscle below the knee can cause pain problems due to overburdening. This is a common occurrence amongst young sportsmen and women who have undergone a growth spurt. The bones first increase in length, followed only then by the muscles and tendons. Many young sportsmen and women start to participate more frequently in sport, specifically in the period when they experience growth spurts. As a result, particularly this muscle attachment can become strained. The pain is generally below the kneecap (=patella). A Push Sports Patella Brace can reduce the main problem in many cases.

Patella (=kneecap)
The most commonly occurring knee injury in korfball is irritation of the joints cartilage behind the kneecap. This is an often difficult to localise pain perceived around and behind the kneecap. The pain above all occurs during or after running. During bending and stretching, the knees may ‘crack and creak’ and sometimes swell up following major exertion (korfball match!).
A diagnosis can be made by a sport physiotherapist and/or sport physician. Depending on the diagnosis, the correct measures can be taken. Possibilities include good shoes, muscle-strengthening exercises, stretching exercises and sufficient recovery. In case of complaints, wearing a Push Sports Patella Brace or a Push Sports Knee Brace may help.

Thumb
An acute thumb injury generally occurs as a result of poor catching technique or the thumb becoming caught on or behind another player. The thumb then bends backwards. The symptoms are pain, swelling of the thenar and restricted movement around the thumb joint. Any movement of the thumb is particularly painful. As the thumb ligament is extended, there is often considerable pain without any clear instability in the joint. In the event of a tear, the pain and swelling increase, and there is greater instability. If the ligament is totally torn away, the pain can be manageable, because there is no further tension on the damaged ligament. However, the thumb is then considerably more mobile.
Following the correct treatment, these problems generally disappear by themselves. The first stage is several days rest. You can then start to gradually move the thumb, guided by the level of pain. In this phase, and when you return to sport, a Push Sports Thumb Brace can protect the joint against pain, and worsening and recurrence of the injury. The way to prevent this injury occurring is to improve catching techniques.