Abstract - Factors putting the head at the risk of injury during backwards falls
Background. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), falls are the second most common unintentional cause of death across the world. Physical education classes in Polish schools do not develop safe falling habits in children.
Problem and aim. This study’s purpose is to see if students of physical education who play handball professionally exhibit different movement habits during a backward fall than do their counterparts who do not take part in any sports at a sports club. The study also focuses on a biomechanical analysis of the causes of head injury during a backwards fall.
Methods. The study involved 67 first-year physical education students at the University of Zielona Góra, aged 19-24, divided into two study groups. Group B (n=26) was made up of handball players, Group A (n=41) comprised the remaining students. The rotational training simulator RTS was used in the experiment to induce falling backwards.
Results. Group B students made considerably fewer ‘head’ and ‘hips’ mistakes when falling backwards, compared with their counterparts in Group A. In both groups the frequency of ‘hips’ mistake increased with the velocity of falling. Increases in the velocity of falling did not trigger an increase in the percentage of ‘head’mistakes in Group B, but only in Group A.
Conclusion. Handball players were found to be at lower risk of head injury in backwards falls. Hitting the ground with the buttocks during a backwards fall may cause the moment of force to act on the head, thus posing the risk of a head injury.