Ankle sprain, concussion, and anterior cruciate ligament injuries are common and burdensome in sub-elite female Australian football players.
J Sci Med Sport
; 27(8): 539-544, 2024 Aug.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38839540
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
To describe the epidemiology of injuries in sub-elite female Australian Football (AF).DESIGN:
Prospective cohort.METHODS:
424 athletes were tracked across a 12-match season. Injury characteristics (location, severity, mechanism) were reported. Injury incidence (injuries per 1000â¯h) and injury burden (days absent per 1000â¯h) were calculated. Severity was considered as the number of days missed between injury onset and return to full training. Incidence was compared using incidence rate ratios, and severity using a Mann-Whitney U test.RESULTS:
Total injury incidence was 10.8 (95â¯% confidence interval [CI]â¯=â¯9.0, 12.8) injuries per 1000â¯h. Match incidence was 34.6 (95â¯% CIâ¯=â¯28.0, 42.4) injuries per 1000â¯h. Ankle sprain injuries (2.2 per 1000â¯h, 95â¯% CIâ¯=â¯1.4, 3.1) and concussion (1.6 per 1000â¯h, 95â¯% CIâ¯=â¯1.0, 2.5) injuries were the most frequent, followed by anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries (0.9 per 1000â¯h, 95â¯% CIâ¯=â¯0.4, 1.6). ACL (40.4â¯days per 1000â¯h, 95â¯% CIâ¯=â¯36.9, 44.1), ankle sprain injuries (31.4 per 1000â¯h, 95â¯% CI =28.4, 34.7), and concussion (19.9 per 1000â¯h, 95â¯% CIâ¯=â¯17.5, 22.5) injuries were also the most burdensome. There were 78 mild, 34 moderate, and 21 severe injuries. ACL injuries were the most severe injury (56.0 [77.0] in-season days missed).CONCLUSIONS:
This research describes the first large-scale injury profile of sub-elite female AF, reporting time-loss measures of incidence and burden for many injury types. Ankle sprain injuries, concussions, and ACL injuries are common and burdensome, and should be prioritised for prevention.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Brain Concussion
/
Ankle Injuries
/
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
En
Journal:
J Sci Med Sport
Journal subject:
MEDICINA ESPORTIVA
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Country of publication: