Characteristics of injuries with female junior high and high school soccer players in comparison with male players

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of the past injuries of female junior high and high school soccer players in comparison with those of male junior high and high school soccer players. 41 female and 60 male players were examined for the past injuries that they had experienced. The incidence of injuries in females was 0.21±1.69 injuries per player per year compared to 0.28±0.41 injuries per player per year in males. There was not significant difference in the incidence of past injuries between males and females. The most frequently injured region was the ankle in females and the upper extremities in males. Females experienced frequent ligament injuries while males experienced frequent fractures. It was unusual that females experienced a higher rate of Osgood-Schlatter disease. Females also had more traumatic injuries caused by non-contact incidents. We conclude that it is important for female soccer players in junior high and high school to take measures to prevent ligament injuries in the lower leg and traumatic injuries caused by non-contact incidents. We need to conduct further research to reveal why the females experienced a higher rate of Osgood-Schlatter disease.