Open AccessHip and groin injury is the most common non‐time‐loss injury in female amateur football
Author(s) -
Langhout Rob,
Weir Adam,
Litjes Wendy,
Gozeling Maarten,
Stubbe Janine H.,
Kerkhoffs Gino,
Tak Igor
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.806
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1433-7347
pISSN - 0942-2056
DOI - 10.1007/s00167-018-4996-1
Subject(s) - groin , medicine , femoroacetabular impingement , football , ankle , surgery , physical therapy , political science , law
Abstract Purpose Hip and groin injuries in football are problematic due to their high incidence and risk of chronicity and recurrence. The use of only time‐loss injury definitions may underestimate the burden of hip and groin injuries. Little is known about hip and groin injury epidemiology in female football. The first aim of this study was to examine the within‐season (2014–2015) prevalence of total injury with and without time‐loss in female amateur football players. The second aim was to study the within‐season and preseason (2015–2016) prevalence of hip/groin injuries with and without time‐loss. The third aim was to study the association between the duration of hip and groin injury in the 2014–2015 season and the severity of hip/groin problems during the 2015–2016 preseason. Methods During the preseason, 434 Dutch female amateur football players completed an online questionnaire based on the previous season and current preseason. The hip and groin outcome score (HAGOS) was used to assess the severity of hip and groin injuries. Results The hip/groin (17%), knee (14%), and ankle (12%) were the most frequent non‐time‐loss injury locations. The ankle (22%), knee (18%), hamstring (11%), thigh (10%), and hip/groin (9%) were the most common time‐loss injury locations. The previous season prevalence of total injury was 93%, of which non‐time‐loss injury was 63% and time‐loss injury was 37%. The prevalence of hip/groin injury was 40%, non‐time‐loss hip/groin injury was 36% and time‐loss hip/groin injury was 11%. The preseason prevalence of hip/groin injury was 27%, non‐time‐loss hip/groin injury was 25%, and time‐loss hip/groin injury was 4%. Players with longstanding hip/groin injury (> 28 days) in the previous season had lower HAGOS scores at the next preseason than players with short‐term (1–7 days) or no hip/groin injury ( p < 0.001). From all players with hip/groin injury from the previous season, 52% also sustained hip/groin injury in the following preseason, of which 73% were recurrent and 27% were chronic hip/groin injuries. Conclusion Injury risk, and especially non‐time‐loss hip and groin injury risk, is high in female amateur football. Three‐quarters of the players with longstanding hip and groin injuries in the previous season have residual problems at the start of the following season. Level of evidence II.