Risk factors associated with self-reported injury history in female youth soccer players

Background: studies that investigate risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries in female youth athletes are limited, especially related to training attributes and position status.

Objective: to determine risk factors including training attributes and position status for a self-reported musculoskeletal injury history in female youth soccer players.

Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study of young female soccer players (mean age: 13.6 ± 2.3 years). we asked about their history of musculoskeletal injuries using an electronic questionnaire. the proportion of young female soccer players with and without a history of soccer-related musculoskeletal injuries were compared based on physical characteristics, training attributes, position status (single vs. multiple), lower extremity strength, and joint laxity. a binary logistic regression analysis was used to generate, and adjusted odds ratios adjusted for potential co-variates (aor). a 95% confidence interval (95%ci) that did not cross one or p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: a total of 160 young female soccer players (mean age: 13.6 ± 2.3 years) participated in the study. an independent association was found between prior musculoskeletal injuries and older ages (aor: 1.60, 95%ci: 1.17, 2.20, p = 0.004), higher weight (aor: 1.10, 95%ci: 1.01, 1.20, p = 0.026), and greater bmi (aor: 1.43, 95%ci: 1.07, 1.90, p = 0.014).

Conclusions: musculoskeletal injuries were associated with age, weight, and bmi in female youth players. the current study indicates that maintaining proper body composition may be beneficial to reduce musculoskeletal injuries among female youth soccer players.