Incidence and burden of 671 injuries in professional women footballers: time to focus on context-specific injury risk reduction strategies
A summary of the research:
The article "Incidence and Burden of 671 Injuries in Professional Women Footballers: Time to Focus on Context-Specific Injury Risk Reduction Strategies" examines injury patterns in a professional women’s football team over two seasons. Researchers recorded 671 injuries, with 101 causing time-loss and 570 requiring medical attention. Injury rates were significantly higher during matches compared to training, with indirect-contact injuries being the leading cause of match-related absences. The study highlights key injury trends, including a high burden of joint injuries and a concerning frequency of ACL tears, which were the most time-consuming injuries to recover from. The findings emphasize the need for improved injury prevention strategies tailored to the specific risks faced by female footballers.
The study calls for context-specific approaches to injury prevention, considering factors such as playing position, match intensity, and training workload. The researchers suggest that clubs should develop targeted training programs to strengthen muscles, improve movement mechanics, and enhance recovery protocols. Additionally, the study stresses the importance of tracking injury data consistently to refine prevention strategies over time. Addressing these issues can help reduce injury rates, enhance player well-being, and improve team performance in professional women’s football.
Key Takeaways
Implement Position-Specific Training: Since injury risks vary by playing position, clubs should develop customized strength and conditioning programs to address the unique physical demands of different roles.
Enhance Recovery and Load Management: Given the high injury rates in matches, teams should prioritize recovery strategies, including structured rest periods, workload monitoring, and individualized rehabilitation plans.
Improve Injury Surveillance and Prevention Programs: Regularly tracking injuries and analyzing patterns can help refine injury prevention strategies, leading to better long-term health outcomes for female footballers.
Authors: Olivier Materne, Faye Bennett, Ashley Sweeney, Jamie Ramsden, Chris Milne, Mark Waller, Karim Chamari & Barry Drust
You can read the entire article here.
