Abstract
Purpose: Description of the types of injuries occurring in ‘’semi-professional’’ soccer players, analysis some factors influencing the occurrence and registration of treatment’s options.
Material & Method: Between 1999–2003, 112 males semi-professional soccer players of different levels of skill, aged 16–38 (average: 28,4yrs) sustained 128 injuries during games or practice. Previous injuries, frequency of playing soccer weekly and options of treatment were also registered.
Results: 89% of injuries caused by trauma and 11% by overuse. 68% of injuries involved the lower extremity, 21% the upper extremity, 7% both upper & lower extremity and 4% the spine. Joints sprains predominated (36%), followed by fractures (25%), menisci tears (12%), ligaments injuries (10%), e.t.c. More than 15 different injuries were treated. Injuries to the ankle were most prevalent (42%), followed by the knee (26%) and the wrist (17%). The 2/3 of the injured players were playing soccer ‘’occasionally’’ (no more than 1–2 times per week, usually without any previous training), while the 1/3 had suffered previous injury in the same area of their body. 45% of injured players were > 30yrs old. Most injuries occurred during games. The treatment was surgically or conservatively (in ratio 1:1), depending on the type of injury.
Conclusions: Soccer players sustained a variety of injuries. Poor physical condition (occasionally playing & practicing), and ‘’personal’’ factors (previous injuries, level of skill) seemed to be related with the frequency and the severity of the occurred injuries. The treatment is based on the type of injury.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Roger Lemaire. Correspondence should be addressed to EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
