Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center

Intoduction

Physical therapists Odd-Egil Olsen and Grethe Myklebust from the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center at the Norwegian University of Sport and Physical Education were selected for the Messner price 2004 during the 7th Scandinavian Congress on Medical Science in Sports in Stockholm for the best scientific article published during 2003 in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports.

Physical therapist Odd-Egil Olsen receives the Messner price from professor Karola Messner

The Messner price 2004 was awarded for the study Relationship between floor type and risk of ACL injury in team handball. The principal investigators were PhD student Odd-Egil Olsen PT and PHD Grethe Myklebust PT from the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center in cooperation with professor Roald Bahr, professorLars Engebretsen and professor Ingar Holme. The article was published in Scand J Med Sci Sports 2003: 13: 299-304.

The jury consisted of the section editors and editor-in-chief of the the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, as well as professor Karola Messner and professor Jan Gillquist. They gave the following evaluation for the selection:

·       The study concerns an important problem in team handball,

        possibly applicable also to other ball sports.

        It also addresses gender differences.

·       The material is large enough to demonstrate interesting

        findings.

·       The presentation of the study is superior.

·       The paper is a good example of a well performed

        observational study with an extensive and exemplary discussion.

·       The paper could be used as a model for students of scientific

        methodology.

The study found that there is a higher risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries on high-friction floors than on low-friction floors. The study followed men and women in Norwegian team handball during seven seasons, and showsthat the risk of ACL injuries was 2-3 times on artificial floor types for women,whereas no such association was found for men.

To prevent non-contact ACL injuries in team handball and other ball games the data available seem to indicate that floor types, either wooden or artificial, with as low shoe-surface traction as possible should be selected. Also, shoe types that result in a safer environment, yet provide sufficient friction to allow optimal performance, should be developed.

Information about friction, cleaning and maintenance routines, limitations on the use of hand glue etc. should be given to the players and coaches. Competitive athletes should consider getting two different pairs of shoes - one for surfaces with a low friction and another for surfaces with higher friction.