Prevalence of injuries and associated factors among portuguese teenage soccer players: A cross-sectional study

Joana Raquel Ferreira Santos Azevedo; Ana Costa-Moreira; Ricardo Cardoso; Isabel Moreira-Silva; Adérito Seixas

doi:10.62741/ahrj.v2i4.95

Authors

Joana Raquel Ferreira Santos Azevedo FP-I3ID, FP-BHS, Escola Superior de Saúde Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3616-8679
Ana Costa-Moreira FP-I3ID, FP-BHS, Escola Superior de Saúde Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7871-7756
Ricardo Cardoso FP-I3ID, FP-BHS, Escola Superior de Saúde Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal; Transdisciplinary Center of Consciousness Studies of Fernando Pessoa University, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0937-2113
Isabel Moreira-Silva FP-I3ID, FP-BHS, Escola Superior de Saúde Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal; Research Center in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sports, University of Porto (FADEUP) and Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4137-7694
Adérito Seixas FP-I3ID, FP-BHS, Escola Superior de Saúde Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal; LABIOMEP, INEGI-LAETA, Faculdade de Desporto, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6563-8246

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62741/ahrj.v2i4.95

Keywords:

injuries, soccer, teenagers, prevalence

Abstract

Introduction: There is scarce literature on the prevalence of injuries among teenage soccer players and their associated factors.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of injuries in Portuguese male and female teenage soccer players and their associations with sociodemographic, anthropometric, and training factors.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 162 teenage players (120 males and 42 females) from two Portuguese soccer teams. The players completed a questionnaire to provide sociodemographic and anthropometric information and to report the injuries suffered since the beginning of soccer practice to date.

Results: The general injury prevalence was found to be 64.8%, with male players presenting a prevalence of 62.5%, and female players of 71.4%. The injury prevalence during matches and training sessions was 45.7% and 56.2%, respectively. The four body regions most commonly affected were: the ankle (32.1%), thigh (24.7%), knee (17.3%) and wrist (9.3%); and the four most common types of injury were: ligament sprains (37.7%), muscle strains (14.8%), muscle contractures/tension (13.6%) and fractures (9.9%). In terms of injury severity, sprains mostly resulted in absences of 8-28 days (moderate); muscle strains and contractures/muscle tension resulted in absences of 1-3 days (minimum); and fractures more than 28 days (severe). Significant associations were found between: ankle injuries and being a midfielder (p=0.002); wrist injuries and being a younger player (p=0.036); sprains and being a goalkeeper (p=0.014); and muscle contractures/tension and shorter warm-up durations (p=0.023).

Conclusion: The prevalence of injuries among teenage male and female soccer players is high, emphasizing the need for continuous adoption of injury prevention strategies, particularly among younger players.

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