High injury-incidence in adolescent female soccer: The influence of weekly soccer-exposure and playing-level
Introduction: In a health-perspective, soccer has important benefits, such as reduced risk of obesity and diabetes, but also includes an inherent risk of injury. Soccer is increasingly popular among adolescent females.
Previous studies report varying injury-rates (2.4-5.3 injuries per 1.000 hours), using traditional medical-staff or coach reports, methods that significantly underestimate injury-rates when compared to selfreport via text-messaging (SMS). The aim of this study was to investigate the injury-incidence and the association between soccer-exposure, playing-level and injury-risk, using self-report via SMS.
Material and Method: 499 girls aged 15-18 years reported soccer-injuries and exposure weekly, by answering standardised SMS questions, followed by individual injury-interviews, during a full soccer-season (February-June, 2012). Injury-rates were calculated as the number of injuries divided by the total exposure. Generalized Estimating Equation with Poisson-link was used to estimate relative risks, as players were clustered within teams. A priori, soccer-exposure and playing-level were chosen as independent variables.
Results: A total of 424 soccer-injuries were recorded. Total injury-incidence was 15.3(13.9-16.8) and time-loss injuryincidence was 9.7(8.6-11.0) per 1.000 hours of soccer-exposure.
Conclusion: The injury-incidence in adolescent female soccer is very high.
Science done by:
Clausen MB1, Zebis MK2, Møller M3, Krustrup P4.5, Hölmich P1, Wedderkopp N6, Andersen LL7, Christensen KB8 and Thorborg K1 at 1 Artroskopisk Center Amager, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2Gait Analysis Laboratory, Hvidovre University Hospital, 3Department of Public Health (Section of Sport Science), Aarhus University, 4Institut, for Idræt og Ernæring, Københavns Universitet, 5Sport and Health, Sciences, University of Exeter, UK, 6Ortopædkirurgisk afd. SLB, inst. For Regional Sundhedsforskning, SDU, 7National Research, Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, 8Institut for Folkesundhedsvidenskab, Københavns Universitet
