Background:The relationship between injury risk (IR) in age groups and periods around
peak height velocity (PHV) remains unclear. PHV is defined as the moment of
the largest increase in body height.Purpose:To investigate injury risk and injury burden as functions of growth velocity
(periods around PHV) and chronological age groupings (under 12 years [U12]
to U19) in talented youth male soccer players.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.Methods:A total of 170 players from the youth academy of a Dutch soccer club (highest
professional league: Eredivisie) were observed for 1 to 3 seasons. Injuries,
exposure, PHV age, and chronological age were registered. The injury
incidence density (IID) and injury burden per 1000 hours of soccer
participation, with 95% CIs, were calculated for 5 PHV periods and 7 age
groups. These were compared with the overall cohort results using incidence
ratios (IRs) and burden ratios (BRs) with 95% CIs.Results:The mean age at PHV was 14.4 ± 0.65 years (range, 12.8-16.5 years). The mean
IID for the total cohort was 8.34 injuries per 1000 hours (95% CI,
7.71-9.02). Compared with the overall mean, a significantly higher IID was
found for PHV period 4+5 (IR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.00-1.71]; P =
.049) and for the U15 group (IR, 1.49 [95% CI, 1.24-1.79];
P < .001). The overall injury burden was 58.37
injury days per 1000 hours (95% CI, 56.66-60.13). In PHV period 4+5, the
injury burden was significantly higher (BR, 1.53 [95% CI, 1.39-1.68];
P < .001) when compared with the overall mean. Also,
compared with the overall mean, the injury burden was higher in the U16 (BR,
1.48 [95% CI, 1.39-1.58]; P < .001), U15 (BR, 1.28 [95%
CI, 1.19-1.38]; P < .001), and U17 groups (BR, 1.21 [95%
CI, 1.13-1.31]; P < .001).Conclusion:Talented young soccer players were more prone to injuries during the 6 months
after PHV (31% above overall mean) as well as in the U15 group (49% above
overall mean). Based on the higher injury burden in the U16 (48%), U15
(28%), and U17 (21%) groups, we suggest that research on injury risk factors
and preventive measures should primarily target these age groups. Additional
interventions based on PHV may be of limited value from a screening
perspective. Further research is needed on the interaction between age
groups and PHV periods.