Preseason Aerobic Fitness Predicts In-Season Injury and Illness in Female Youth Athletes

Abstract

Background:Although preseason aerobic fitness has been suggested as a modifiable risk factor for injury in adult athletes, the relationship between aerobic fitness, injury, and illness in youth athletes is unknown.Purpose:To determine whether preseason aerobic fitness predicts in-season injury and illness risk in female adolescent soccer players.Study Design:Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:Fifty-four female adolescent soccer players underwent preseason evaluation to determine years of experience, body mass index (BMI), maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max), and time to exhaustion (Tmax) during cycle ergometer testing. All injuries and illnesses during the subsequent 20-week season were recorded. Variables were compared between individuals with and without a self-reported injury and individuals with and without a self-reported illness. Separate Poisson regression models were developed to predict number of injuries and illnesses for each individual by use of age, years of experience, BMI, VO2max, and Tmax. Results:Twenty-eight injuries and 38 illnesses in 23 individuals were recorded during the season. Although not a statistically significant finding, individuals who reported an in-season injury had lower VO2max than those who did not (54.9 ± 7.3 vs 58.3 ± 8.5 mL/kg/min, P = .13). Individuals who reported an illness had significantly lower VO2max than those who did not (54.5 ± 9.9 vs 58.8 ± 6.2 mL/kg/min, P = .014). With the Poisson regression models, VO2max was a significant predictor of both injury (odds ratio [OR], 0.95; P = .046) and illness (OR, 0.94; P = .009), while no significant relationships were identified between injury or illness and age, years of experience, Tmax, or BMI (all P > .05).Conclusion:Among adolescent female soccer players, greater preseason aerobic fitness is associated with a reduced risk of in-season injury and illness. Off-season intervention to promote aerobic fitness may help reduce the risk of lost time during the season due to injury and illness.

The relationship between physical fitness attributes and sports injury in female, team ball sport players: a systematic review

“…Online resource 3 outlines the key data extracted for this review. Of the 44 studies included, the most frequently studied team ball sport was soccer (represented in 24 studies; 55%) [ 61 – 84 ], followed by basketball (represented in 14 studies, 32%) [ 64 , 65 , 71 , 73 , 83 , 85 – 93 ], and volleyball (represented in 7 studies, 16%) [ 64 , 71 , 83 , 89 – 91 , 94 ]. Other team ball sports investigated included handball [ 81 , 90 , 95 , 96 ], netball [ 97 – 100 ], softball [ 101 – 103 ], field hockey [ 61 , 65 ], lacrosse [ 61 ], and rugby union [ 104 ].…”

“…Only one study did not report an injury definition to classify ‘any injury’ [ 70 ]. One prospective study (level II) investigated ‘any injury’ regarding total days injured [ 104 ], whereas the remaining studies examined any physical injury that occurred during sport using either prospective (level II) [ 64 , 66 – 68 ], case-control (level III) [ 84 ], or cross-sectional study designs (level III) [ 70 , 76 , 102 ]. Two cross-sectional studies (level III) examined participants’ one-season [ 102 ] or three-season [ 76 ] history of ‘any injury’.…”

The association between physical fitness level and number and severity of injury and illness in youth elite athletes

“…Numerous studies related to various elements of physical fitness have attempted to identify factors that contribute to injury and illness risk in young athletes, although not at the elite level. Typically, physical fitness tests encompass components such as cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, flexibility tests, and functional movement tests . Prior research studies on the adult population have demonstrated an association between higher levels of aerobic fitness and decreased injury risk, whereas research on the relationship between physical fitness level and illness risk is limited and mostly focus on increasing training loads .…”

“…For youth elite athletes, there are even less data addressing the relationship between physical fitness and injury and illness risk and the results are conflicting . While some studies claim that well‐developed aerobic fitness might protect youth athletes from future injury or illness, no association has been shown with functional movement screening tests, nor with a relatively lower fitness level …”

Gambaran Panjang Femur terhadap Cedera Tungkai Atas pada Pemain Futsal

“…Intervensi di luar musim kompetisi untuk mempromosikan kebugaran aerobik dapat membantu mengurangi risiko kehilangan waktu selama musim kompetisi karena cedera. 31…”