Injuries in professional women’s elite soccer players in Kosovo: epidemiological injury study
Abstract Background An emphasis has been given lately towards women’s engagement together with their potential in soccer. As this sport develops with athletes becoming more physically fit and skilled, it is unclear what the consequences in terms of injuries are. Having this in mind, this study aimed...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-10-01
|
| Series: | BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-023-00746-9 |
| _version_ | 1797557321773088768 |
|---|---|
| author | Feim Gashi Tine Kovačič Ismet Shalaj Bekim Haxhiu Arben Boshnjaku |
| author_facet | Feim Gashi Tine Kovačič Ismet Shalaj Bekim Haxhiu Arben Boshnjaku |
| author_sort | Feim Gashi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background An emphasis has been given lately towards women’s engagement together with their potential in soccer. As this sport develops with athletes becoming more physically fit and skilled, it is unclear what the consequences in terms of injuries are. Having this in mind, this study aimed to investigate the major injuries that occur in women’s soccer players. Methods This descriptive epidemiological study invited all 286 women’s soccer players from the 12 participating women clubs in the Kosovo 1st Soccer League (elite football level) during the 2021/2022 season, out of which 142 from 12 clubs participated. Exposure time for 1000 h of playing and training were recorded in addition to the anthropometric data, playing position, and prior injury history during the end of the season, practice, and match. The exact type of injury, severity, and post-injury recovery time, as well as the circumstances surrounding the injuries, were recorded. Results In total 84 injuries were registered with an overall injury ratio (IR) being 3.21 (CI: 2.56, 3.98) injuries/1000 exposure hours. During the competitive season, each player sustained 1.4 injuries on average. IRs were significantly higher during competition (n = 50; IR = 1.57; CI: 1.52, 1.62) compared to training (n = 34; IR = 0.26, CI: 0.25, 0.27). Out of a total of 142 women players, 84 (59.2%) injuries occurred, and no record of injuries was made in 58 (40.8%) players. The overall IR was observed to be 3.21 (CI: 1.24, 3.27), with moderate and severe injuries accounting for 38.1% of total injuries (each), followed by mild (16.7%) and minimal (7.1%) injuries. Conclusion The women IR in Kosovo women’s soccer players is low while being circa 11% below the international average. Almost 2 out of every 4 injuries were categorized as traumatic, with the IRs being more than 5-fold larger during games than during training. Additionally, these findings emphasize the higher rate of injuries amongst younger athletes, suggesting caution to be taken by the coaches when planning for the match. The collected data may help coaches and trainers create more targeted women’s soccer injury prevention programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:15:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a4e1f8d3341547f184fbd7a7d67d2eea |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2052-1847 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:15:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| spelling | doaj.art-a4e1f8d3341547f184fbd7a7d67d2eea2023-11-20T10:30:59ZengBMCBMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation2052-18472023-10-011511910.1186/s13102-023-00746-9Injuries in professional women’s elite soccer players in Kosovo: epidemiological injury studyFeim Gashi0Tine Kovačič1Ismet Shalaj2Bekim Haxhiu3Arben Boshnjaku4Physiotherapy Program, Faculty of Medicine, Alma Mater Europaea -ECMPhysiotherapy Department, Faculty for Health Science, University of LjubljanaPhysiotherapy Department, Faculty of Medical SciencesPhysiotherapy Department, Faculty of Medical SciencesPhysiotherapy Department, Faculty of Medical SciencesAbstract Background An emphasis has been given lately towards women’s engagement together with their potential in soccer. As this sport develops with athletes becoming more physically fit and skilled, it is unclear what the consequences in terms of injuries are. Having this in mind, this study aimed to investigate the major injuries that occur in women’s soccer players. Methods This descriptive epidemiological study invited all 286 women’s soccer players from the 12 participating women clubs in the Kosovo 1st Soccer League (elite football level) during the 2021/2022 season, out of which 142 from 12 clubs participated. Exposure time for 1000 h of playing and training were recorded in addition to the anthropometric data, playing position, and prior injury history during the end of the season, practice, and match. The exact type of injury, severity, and post-injury recovery time, as well as the circumstances surrounding the injuries, were recorded. Results In total 84 injuries were registered with an overall injury ratio (IR) being 3.21 (CI: 2.56, 3.98) injuries/1000 exposure hours. During the competitive season, each player sustained 1.4 injuries on average. IRs were significantly higher during competition (n = 50; IR = 1.57; CI: 1.52, 1.62) compared to training (n = 34; IR = 0.26, CI: 0.25, 0.27). Out of a total of 142 women players, 84 (59.2%) injuries occurred, and no record of injuries was made in 58 (40.8%) players. The overall IR was observed to be 3.21 (CI: 1.24, 3.27), with moderate and severe injuries accounting for 38.1% of total injuries (each), followed by mild (16.7%) and minimal (7.1%) injuries. Conclusion The women IR in Kosovo women’s soccer players is low while being circa 11% below the international average. Almost 2 out of every 4 injuries were categorized as traumatic, with the IRs being more than 5-fold larger during games than during training. Additionally, these findings emphasize the higher rate of injuries amongst younger athletes, suggesting caution to be taken by the coaches when planning for the match. The collected data may help coaches and trainers create more targeted women’s soccer injury prevention programs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-023-00746-9Injury incidenceFemaleTraumaOveruseSports |
| spellingShingle | Feim Gashi Tine Kovačič Ismet Shalaj Bekim Haxhiu Arben Boshnjaku Injuries in professional women’s elite soccer players in Kosovo: epidemiological injury study BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation Injury incidence Female Trauma Overuse Sports |
| title | Injuries in professional women’s elite soccer players in Kosovo: epidemiological injury study |
| title_full | Injuries in professional women’s elite soccer players in Kosovo: epidemiological injury study |
| title_fullStr | Injuries in professional women’s elite soccer players in Kosovo: epidemiological injury study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Injuries in professional women’s elite soccer players in Kosovo: epidemiological injury study |
| title_short | Injuries in professional women’s elite soccer players in Kosovo: epidemiological injury study |
| title_sort | injuries in professional women s elite soccer players in kosovo epidemiological injury study |
| topic | Injury incidence Female Trauma Overuse Sports |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-023-00746-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT feimgashi injuriesinprofessionalwomenselitesoccerplayersinkosovoepidemiologicalinjurystudy AT tinekovacic injuriesinprofessionalwomenselitesoccerplayersinkosovoepidemiologicalinjurystudy AT ismetshalaj injuriesinprofessionalwomenselitesoccerplayersinkosovoepidemiologicalinjurystudy AT bekimhaxhiu injuriesinprofessionalwomenselitesoccerplayersinkosovoepidemiologicalinjurystudy AT arbenboshnjaku injuriesinprofessionalwomenselitesoccerplayersinkosovoepidemiologicalinjurystudy |