Injuries in elite-level women’s football—a two-year prospective study in the Irish Women’s National League
A summary of the article:
The article "Injuries in Elite-Level Women’s Football: A Two-Year Prospective Study in the Irish Women’s National League" examines the incidence, type, and severity of injuries in elite women’s football in Ireland. Conducted over two seasons (2018-2019), the study followed 271 players across seven clubs, documenting 266 injuries. The findings reveal that match injury rates were significantly higher than training injury rates, with most injuries affecting the lower extremities, such as the ankle, knee, and thigh. The study also highlights that non-contact injuries, such as muscle strains and ligament sprains, were more common, especially during match play. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, while less frequent, resulted in the most significant time lost due to injury, averaging 247 days.
The research emphasizes the importance of implementing injury prevention strategies, particularly targeting high-risk injuries like ACL tears, hamstring strains, and ankle sprains. It also calls for improved injury surveillance and training practices to better prepare players for the physical demands of matches. This study provides critical insights into the injury patterns in women’s football, suggesting that targeted interventions could help reduce injury rates and severity.
Key Takeaways:
High match injury rates: Injuries during matches were 7.5 times more frequent than during training, particularly in the lower extremities.
Significant injury burden from ACL tears: ACL injuries, while not the most common, resulted in the highest average time lost (247 days) and accounted for 28% of all time lost to injury.
Non-contact injuries prevalent: The majority of injuries, such as muscle strains and ligament sprains, occurred without physical contact, indicating a need for improved conditioning and training to prevent these injuries.
Authors: Dan Horan, Catherine Blake, Martin Hägglund, Seamus Kelly, Mark Roe, & Eamonn Delahunt
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