Brid Stepper, Anne Hecksteden, Hendrik Stagge, Oliver Faude, Lars Donath – Systematic review on badminton injuries: incidence, characteristics and risk factors: BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine 2025;11:e002127.

The full article can be found here

Tell us more about yourself and the author team.

My name is Brid Stepper, and I am a PhD student at the University of Innsbruck and a professional badminton player. My co-authors have different backgrounds: Prof Donath (German Sport University Cologne) and Prof Hecksteden (University of Innsbruck) work in sport and exercise science from a medical and training science perspective. Prof Faude (University of Basel) has already published numerous studies in badminton and injury epidemiology and prevention and was able to provide valuable advice. Hendrik Stagge is a badminton player and bachelor’s student at the German Sport University Cologne. He was already able to make a major contribution to scientific work at the beginning of his studies.

What is the story behind your study?

Due to the many cases of injury, including among the top players of the German Badminton Federation, the association’s scientific managers requested a study on the epidemiology of (German) badminton. This resulted in a practical project with players of transitional age from youth to elite sport, which is currently being carried out and is part of my PhD project. This review was the result of initial research on the topic of injury epidemiology in badminton. The results from the following stages of the project will also be published in international journals.

In your own words, what did you find?

Although badminton is considered a non-contact sport, injuries are prevalent in players. The injury rate is between 1 and 4 injuries/1000h, with the lower extremities most frequently affected. Overuse injuries seem to be a relevant problem (which I can fully confirm as a case study). The typical repetitive movement patterns, such as lunges, jumps, quick changes of direction, and overhead strokes, cause great strain on the body.

What was the main challenge you faced in your study?

The main challenge in preparing the review was the heterogeneity of previous studies, e.g. in terms of study design, injury definitions, data collection methods and inclusion criteria. For this reason, the initially envisaged meta-analysis was replaced by a qualitative summary.

If there is one take-home message from your study, what would that be?

Due to the year-round competition calendar in badminton, there are hardly any breaks from training and competitions. Badminton players are therefore exposed to a high risk of acute and chronic injuries. The further development of the epidemiological report can contribute to injury surveillance and prevention in elite sports because ‘Top shape and injuries are close neighbours’. In addition, it is important for future research to design injury prevention programmes for badminton athletes but also not to neglect the important aspect of practical suitability in the sports hall.