Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional for advice specific to your condition. © 2026 Better Physiotherapy Bundoora.
Netball has one of the highest injury rates of any team sport in Australia, with ankle sprains and knee injuries particularly prevalent. Physiotherapy plays a critical role — not just in treating injuries when they occur, but in preventing them with evidence-based programs.
The Demands of Netball
Netball is a court-based sport with repeated explosive demands: jumping and landing for aerial contests, rapid acceleration and deceleration, pivoting on a single foot, and overhead catching. The no-running-with-the-ball rule means netball involves almost no flowing running — instead, a series of explosive efforts with hard stops. This load profile creates specific injury risk patterns distinct from field sports.
Common Netball Injuries
- Ankle sprains: Most common — often from landing from a jump on another player's foot, from court edge contact, or from awkward pivoting
- ACL ruptures: High incidence, particularly in female players. Often during non-contact cutting or landing movements
- Patellofemoral pain: From the repetitive jumping and landing demands
- Shoulder impingement: From the overhead catching and throwing demands — particularly for shooters and goal keepers
- Finger injuries: Mallet finger, collateral ligament sprains, and PIP joint dislocations from ball impact
- Achilles tendinopathy: From the high-load jumping demands, especially in masters players
Return to Netball After Injury
Return to netball requires sport-specific criteria — particularly for lower limb injuries. Hop and jump landing testing (single-leg hop for distance, drop-jump assessment) evaluates functional readiness for the demands of court sport before full match return. A physiotherapist will guide you through these progressions.
Netball Injury Treatment at Better Physiotherapy Bundoora
We treat netball players from junior through masters competition across the northern suburbs of Melbourne. We can also provide prevention program design for clubs and schools. Call (03) 9467 6900 or book online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are ACL injuries common in netball?
Netball involves repetitive high-speed stopping, cutting, and one-foot landing movements that create high ACL loading. Female netball players are particularly at risk due to their landing biomechanics — landing with the knee in valgus (knee caving in) combined with hip adduction and little knee flexion dramatically increases ACL stress. The harder court surface compared to grass also increases joint loading.
How long does an ankle sprain take to heal in netball?
Grade 1 ankle sprains typically allow return to netball in 1–2 weeks. Grade 2 sprains take 3–6 weeks. Grade 3 tears may take 6–12 weeks. However, time is not the only guide — proprioception and strength testing should confirm readiness before return to sport. Players who "play through" inadequately rehabilitated ankle sprains have significantly higher risk of re-sprain and developing chronic instability.
What causes finger injuries in netball?
Catching a ball at high speed repeatedly subjects the fingers to hyperextension, axial compression, and valgus/varus forces. Mallet finger (extensor tendon avulsion at the DIP joint), collateral ligament sprains, and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint dislocations are common. Buddy strapping and progressive return to catching are the key management strategies.
What is the best prevention program for netball injuries?
The Knee Program (developed by the Australian Institute of Sport and Netball Australia) is an evidence-based warm-up and exercise program that reduces ACL and lower limb injury risk in netball. It includes dynamic warm-up, strength exercises, and jump-landing technique training. Applied consistently, it reduces ACL injury risk by approximately 40%.
Ashley Haleel
Physiotherapist & Owner — Better Physiotherapy Bundoora