Risk factors for football injuries in young players aged 7 to 12 years

Abstract

Football (soccer) is very popular among children. Little is known about risk factors for football injuries in children. The aim was to analyze potential injury risk factors in 7- to 12-year-old players. We collected prospective data in Switzerland and the Czech Republic over two seasons. Coaches reported exposure of players (in hours), absence, and injury data via an Internet-based registration system. We analyzed time-to-injury data with extended Cox models accounting for correlations on team- and intra-person levels. We analyzed injury risk in relation to age, sex, playing position, preferred foot, and regarding age-independent body height, body mass, and BMI. Further, we analyzed injury risk in relation to playing surface. In total, 6038 player seasons with 395 295 hours of football exposure were recorded and 417 injuries occurred. Injury risk increased by 46% (Hazard Ratio 1.46 [1.35; 1.58]; P < .001) per year of life. Left-footed players had a higher injury risk (Hazard Ratio 1.53 [1.07; 2.19]; P = .02) for training injuries compared to right-footed players. Injury risk was increased in age-adjusted taller players (higher percentile rank). Higher match-training ratios were associated with a lower risk of match injuries. Injury risk was increased on artificial turf (Rate Ratio 1.39 [1.12; 1.73]; P < .001) and lower during indoor sessions (Rate Ratio 0.68 [0.52; 0.88]; P < .001) compared to natural grass. Age is known as a risk factor in older players and was confirmed to be a risk factor in children's football. Playing surface and leg dominance have also been discussed previously as risk factors. Differences in injury risks in relation to sex should be investigated in the future.

The effect of different sports specialization on ankle joint mobility of young players

“…Moreover, it has been reported that these injuries could be increased by using artificial surface in addition to inappropriate footwear (Kaumeyer & Malone, 1980;Faude et al, 2013;Rössler et al, 2018). However, the AJM assessed in the basketball, gymnastics and volleyball group resulted to be in line with the reference values reported in scientific literature (Boone & Azen, 1979;Kumar et al, 2011;Francia et al, 2019).…”

“…Such phenomenon may be due to the gradual increase in the stiffness of foot flexor muscles in particular of triceps surae (Kaumeyer & Malone, 1980;Terada et al, 2013;Francia et al, 2018;Rössler et al, 2018). However, the real cause of a limited AJM condition in young soccer players and is still unknown.…”

“…Although, in the lack of clear scientific evidences, a number of studies suggested that the type of movements and specific sport postures required on the soccer field could contribute to the reduced AJM detected (Ribeiro et al, 2003;de Noronha et al, 2006;DeLang et al, 2017;Read et al, 2016;Rössler et al, 2018).…”

“…Therefore, as a whole, the sport specific muscular connective tissue adaptation in addition to the possible muscle tendons alterations sport induced (i.e. muscle lesions, tendinopathy, ankle impingement and an abnormal toning of the leg and foot muscles) may affect, also young soccer players, and justify at least in part the limited AJM detected (Basnett et al, 2013;Golanò et al, 2014;Read et al, 2016;Rössler et al, 2018).…”

Investigation of knee control as a lower extremity injury risk factor: A prospective study in youth football

“…Previous studies on youth football have reported no differences in injury risk between boys and girls. 5,6,42,43 We analyzed sex as a potential risk factor in the entire cohort but detected no significant associations. In addition, separate risk factor analyses were performed for boys and girls.…”