Epidemiology of Injuries in First Division Spanish Women’s Soccer Players

Rodrigo Martín-San Agustín, Francesc Medina-Mirapeix, Andrea Esteban-Catalán, Adrian Escriche-Escuder, Mariana Sánchez-Barbadora and Josep C. Benítez-Martínez
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Rodrigo Martín-San Agustín: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Francesc Medina-Mirapeix: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Andrea Esteban-Catalán: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Adrian Escriche-Escuder: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Malaga, 29010 Malaga, Spain
Mariana Sánchez-Barbadora: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Josep C. Benítez-Martínez: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-10

Abstract: The epidemiology of injuries in female soccer has been studied extensively in several national leagues. Even so, data on the first division Spanish league are limited. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of the first division of the Spanish Women’s Soccer League and to analyze data in relation to game position, circumstance, or the moment of injury. Fifteen teams and 123 players participated in the study. Players’ characteristics and their injuries (location, type, diagnosis, circumstance, and moment) were collected. Injuries were described by their frequencies (number and percentage) and incidence rates (IR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Lower limb injuries accounted for 86.8% of total injuries. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus injuries occurred in totality in non-contact circumstance (0.35/1000 h; 95% CI, 0.18 to 0.62 and 0.23/1000 h; 95% CI, 0.10 to 0.45, respectively). Match injury IRs (19.02/1000 h; 95% CI, 14.89 to 23.97) were significantly higher than training (1.70/1000 h; 95% CI, 1.27 to 2.22). As a conclusion, structures such as the ACL or meniscus are most commonly injured in the non-contact circumstance in the first division of the Spanish Women’s Soccer League. In addition, match situations involve a greater risk of injury than training, increasing the risk to the ankle and knee injuries as the season progresses.

Keywords: epidemiology; female athlete; first division; soccer; injury incidence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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