Epidemiology of Injuries in Elite Female Futsal Players: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Injuries are one of the worst case scenarios for an athlete and a team. The aim of this study was to analyze the injury incidence, characteristics and burden among a cohort of elite female futsal players. A prospective cohort study was designed over a season. Eighty-nine players from seven elite female futsal teams were monitored during the whole season. Eight different variables were recorded when an injury happened, as well as exposure time. A total of 90 injuries were recorded so that 54 out of 89 players (60.6%) sustained an injury. The overall injury incidence was 5 injuries per 1000 h of futsal play exposure. Moderate injuries were the most frequent (1.7 injuries per 1000 h of futsal play exposure). The quadriceps and ankle were the regions where most injuries occurred. Contact injuries were more common during matches than training, and usually happened at the end of the season. Elite female futsal players are exposed to a substantial injury risk, especially on ankle and quadriceps with moderate severity, occurring at the end of the sessions, especially during matches. These results highlight the need of new preventive strategies to reduce the high injury incidence in female futsal players.

Incidence and prevalence of injuries in futsal: A systematic review of the literature

“…This result could be expected due to the specific characteristics of futsal (see "Introduction" section). In this sense, the lower limb is under constant stress during futsal practice due to ball control, displacements, and interaction with rivals (Cherati et al, 2016;Emery & Meeuwisse, 2006;Gayardo et al, 2012;Kurata et al, 2007;Lago-Fuentes et al, 2020;Morato et al, 2013).…”

“…© 2021 University of Alicante of rhythm and direction, ball control and interaction with rivals that take place in futsal. This provokes higher stress in these joints and predisposes athletes to injury (Lago-Fuentes et al, 2020;Quemelo et al, 2012;Varkiani et al, 2013). Specifically, ankle-injury-chances are higher when dribbling and shooting (Aminiaghdam, 2012;Cherati et al, 2016;López-Segovia et al, 2019) and the knee, as is situated in the centre of the lower-limb lever arm, is more exposed with changes of rhythm and direction (Aminiaghdam, 2012).…”

“…Attending to the results gathered in Table 2 it is difficult to identify injury mechanisms that prevail among others. Specifically, eight studies reported a higher percentage of injuries that occur due to direct contact with rivals (Aminiaghdam, 2012;Dantas & Silva, 2007;Emery & Meeuwisse, 2006;Junge & Dvorak, 2010;Lago-Fuentes et al, 2020;Morato, Bilzon & Duarte, 2013;Ribeiro & Costa, 2006;Willick et al, 2013). Accordingly, Lindenfeld et al (1994) reported that a major part of injuries occurs due to collisions (30.9%) and being hit by a rival (16%).…”

“…Different conclusions can be extracted after carefully reading the existing literature in this regard. A major part of studies highlights ankle and knee sprains as the main injury happening during futsal practice (Aminiaghdam, 2012;Baroni et al, 2008;Cherati et al, 2016;Dantas & Silva, 2007;Junge & Dvorak, 2010;Lago-Fuentes et al, 2020;Lindenfeld et al, 1994;Luciano & Lara, 2012;Morato et al, 2013;Serrano et al, 2013;Uluöz, 2016). As aforementioned, the constant ball control and disputes with rivals provoke a high demand on these joints and therefore the tendency to injury increases (Panchuk & Glab, 2015;Quemelo et al, 2012;Varkiani et al, 2013).…”

Updating futsal physiology, immune system, and performance

“…Besides, Clemente and Nikolaidis (2016) assessed the differences in training loads between genders among female and male amateur futsal players and found differences in the average of HRmax and % time spent in Z2 and Z3. Female athletes also present significant differences concerning body composition and immune functions compared to male athletes (Lago-Fuentes et al, 2020;Mattina et al, 2019). However, scientific knowledge concerning female futsal features is rather restricted and future assessments are needed to better understand the futsal game model related to the hormonal and menstrual cycles and for avoiding muscle damage in female players.…”