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High proportion of upper limb injuries found among child soccer players
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Children who played soccer had a relatively high proportion of fractures and bone stress, as well as injuries to the upper limbs, according to results.
Coaches of children’s soccer teams in the Czech Republic and Switzerland reported exposure of players during training and match play (in hours) and injury data through an Internet-based registration system. Researchers classified the location, type and severity of injuries according to an established consensus, with injury defined as any physical complain sustained during a scheduled training session or match play resulting in either inability to complete the current match or training session, absence from subsequent training sessions, or matches and injury requiring medical attention. Players had a mean age of 9.5 years and most were boys.
Researchers recorded 6,038 player-seasons with 395,295 hours of soccer exposure. Results showed 417 injuries were reported, with 76.3% of injuries located in the lower limbs and 15.6% located in the upper limbs. Overall, 30.5% of injuries were joint and ligament injuries; 22.5% were contusions; 18.5% were muscle and tendon injuries; and 15.4% were fracture and bone injuries.
Researchers noted 23.7% of injuries led to more than 28 days of absence from sport participation. During training seasons, results showed an overall injury incidence of 0.61 injuries per 1,000 hours of soccer exposure and 4.57 during match play. As age increased, injury incidence rates also increased, according to results. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: Rössler reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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