Long-Term Injury Survey in a Japanese University Women's Soccer Team.

Abstract

Background: Injuries are common in soccer as it is a contact sport. However, longitudinal studies spanning multiple seasons, focused on injuries in female university soccer players in Japan, are lacking. Additionally, broader comparisons on injury patterns remain unexplored. The purpose of this study was to prospectively investigate injuries among female university soccer players over three seasons.

Study design: Descriptive epidemiological study.

Methods: A total of 108 players from a university women's soccer team were included. A qualified athletic trainer assessed injury type (injury or disability), site and severity according to injury occurrence (game or practice) over three seasons. An orthopedic surgeon confirmed the resulting injury.

Results: The overall injury rate was 1.62/1000 athlete exposures. The game injury rate (9.86/1000 athlete exposures) was higher than the practice injury rate (1.39/1000 athlete exposures). Sprains were the most common injury in games and practices; concussions and meniscal tears were also common during games. The lower limbs, particularly the ankles and feet, were the most common anatomical injury sites in both games and practices. Severe injuries requiring long-term withdrawal were frequently observed during games and practices. These included anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, meniscal injuries, and severe concussions, all of which necessitated prolonged recovery periods and withdrawal from team activities.

Conclusion: Injury prevention measures should be prioritized for female university soccer players, especially to address the high injury rate during games and the frequent occurrence of severe injuries.

Level of evidence: 3b.