Over the past 20 years, water polo participation has grown significantly in the South Africa.
Sportsmanship, equipment, and attention to preparation and strengthening can help prevent
injuries and enhance and improve performance.
Water polo is physically challenging, combining the rigors of swimming, wrestling, and
competitive throwing. Similar to basketball, it involves bursts of activity around the goal
and during transition, as well as subtle moves and positioning under the water. All of these
factors contribute to injury risk, with shoulder injuries among the most common in the
sport.
WHAT ARE SOME COMMON WATER POLO INJURIES AND HOW CAN THEY BE PREVENTED?
Shoulder Injuries
A water polo player’s arm is in a vulnerable position when cocking to throw. Tears of the
labrum, the anchoring point for ligaments and the bicep tendon, can occur from both acute
injuries such as dislocations and from repetitive injuries, such as too much throwing. After
dislocation, some players can be managed in season if they can demonstrate full range of
motion, full strength, and no or minimal instability symptoms. Surgical repair can be
performed post-season.
Throwing in water polo differs from throwing in other sports because the players’ legs do
not have stable support. This can lead to an increase in fatigue of the muscles around the
shoulder blade and upper back. According to one report of upper extremity injuries in water
polo, 80 percent of players have shoulder pain during their careers. Focusing on dry-land
core and shoulder muscular strengthening is critical for prevention and rehabilitation of
shoulder pain and weakness.
Knee Injuries
Eggbeater kicking during games and practice can put strain on the knee, similar to when
performing the breaststroke, commonly resulting in injuries such as medial collateral
ligament strains and meniscal tears. Prevention activities should emphasize proper hip
flexibility and strengthening the quadriceps and hamstring. Pre-season dry-land training,
cross training and water treading exercises can help prevent injury.
Back and Spine Injuries
In playing water polo, the back and spine are subjected to combined bending and rotational
forces more often than in other throwing sports. This makes neck and lower back areas prone
to injury, such as a strain or tear in the lumbar disk. Fortunately, severe spine trauma
rarely occurs. Prevention is emphasized with core abdominal and back strengthening
exercises.
Hand and Wrist Injuries
Grasping, twisting, and blocking during play frequently results in finger sprains and
dislocations. If pain in the hand and wrist continues or if there is a deformity, xrays to
test for possible fractures might be necessary. Sprains can typically be managed with
buddy-taping but may require hand therapy. Proper sportsmanship is the key to prevention.
Facial Injuries
Eye and ear injuries from opponents’ hands and ball strikes may include eye cuts, eardrum
rupture, and even facial fractures. Emphasis should be on wearing and maintaining proper
protective headgear with ear cups, and keeping players’ fingernails clipped and filed. It is
difficult to completely prevent these types of injuries, but protective equipment does help.
WHEN IS IT NECESSARY TO SEE A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL?
Injuries accompanied by loss of sensation, weakness, deformity, severe or persistent pain,
ringing or muffled hearing, blurry vision, or persistent bleeding should be evaluated by a
physician. Other pain due to overuse or mild injuries can be treated by rest and taking pain
relievers such as NSAI’s . Swelling and pain can also be treated with alternating ice and
heat therapy.
PHYSIOTHERAPY INTERVENTION :
We as Physiotherapists are skilled at diagnosing the specific injury , and then through
multiple modalities , we are able to treat the various common conditions discussed above and
accelerate injury repair.
Deep soft tissue release
Manual therapy and joint mobilisation
Electrotherapy
Shockwave therapy
Acupuncture
Exercise rehabilitation
To prevent the injury recurring , a personalised strength and flexibility programme should
be prescribed.
For the end of season and pre-season , players should seek our professional advice to do a
screening and biomechanical assessment , as this will detect any abnormalities early on and
then a structured programme can be designed for them as a preventative measure. This will
hopefully allow the players to have less injury time during the season .
Clinton Grobbelaar
( Physiotherapist )