Football (soccer) is very popular among children. Little is known about risk factors for football injuries in children. The aim was to analyze potential injury risk factors in 7- to 12-year-old players. We collected prospective data in Switzerland and the Czech Republic over two seasons. Coaches reported exposure of players (in hours), absence, and injury data via an Internet-based registration system. We analyzed time-to-injury data with extended Cox models accounting for correlations on team- and intra-person levels. We analyzed injury risk in relation to age, sex, playing position, preferred foot, and regarding age-independent body height, body mass, and BMI. Further, we analyzed injury risk in relation to playing surface. In total, 6038 player seasons with 395 295 hours of football exposure were recorded and 417 injuries occurred. Injury risk increased by 46% (Hazard Ratio 1.46 [1.35; 1.58]; P < .001) per year of life. Left-footed players had a higher injury risk (Hazard Ratio 1.53 [1.07; 2.19]; P = .02) for training injuries compared to right-footed players. Injury risk was increased in age-adjusted taller players (higher percentile rank). Higher match-training ratios were associated with a lower risk of match injuries. Injury risk was increased on artificial turf (Rate Ratio 1.39 [1.12; 1.73]; P < .001) and lower during indoor sessions (Rate Ratio 0.68 [0.52; 0.88]; P < .001) compared to natural grass. Age is known as a risk factor in older players and was confirmed to be a risk factor in children's football. Playing surface and leg dominance have also been discussed previously as risk factors. Differences in injury risks in relation to sex should be investigated in the future.
- MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- fotbal zranění MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- proporcionální rizikové modely MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- rizikové faktory MeSH
- sportovní úrazy epidemiologie MeSH
- věkové faktory MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
- Švýcarsko MeSH
Head injuries are considered harmful in children. We analyzed head and neck injuries in organized football in 7- to 12-year-old children. Data for this analysis were obtained from a prospective cohort study over two consecutive football seasons in two European countries, and a randomized intervention trial over one season in four European countries. Football exposure and injuries were documented through an online database. Detailed information regarding injury characteristics and medical follow-up was retrieved from coaches, children and parents by phone. Thirty-nine head injuries and one neck injury (5% of all 791 injuries) were documented during 9933 player-seasons (total football exposure 688 045 hours). The incidence was 0.25 [95%CI 0.15, 0.35] head/neck injuries per 1000 match hours (N=23 match injuries) and 0.03 [95%CI 0.02, 0.03] per 1000 training hours. Eleven concussions (27.5%), nine head contusions (22.5%), eight lacerations or abrasions (20%), two nose fractures (2.5%), and two dental injuries (2.5%) occurred. The remaining eight injuries were nose bleeding or other minor injuries. Thirty injuries (75%) resulted from contact with another player, and ten injuries were due to collision with an object, falling or a hit by the ball. Whereas 70% of all head injuries (N=28) were due to frontal impacts, 73% of concussions (N=8) resulted from an impact to the occiput. The incidence and severity of head injuries in children's football are low. Coaches and parents, however, should be sensitized regarding the potential of concussions, particularly after an impact to the occiput.
- MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- fotbal zranění MeSH
- incidence MeSH
- komoce mozku epidemiologie MeSH
- kraniocerebrální traumata epidemiologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- poranění krku epidemiologie MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- randomizované kontrolované studie jako téma MeSH
- sportovní úrazy epidemiologie prevence a kontrola MeSH
- zhmoždění epidemiologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Evropa MeSH
Several authors have investigated the frequency of football injuries in youth players. However, the results of these studies are inconsistent because of the different age groups investigated and the different methods applied. The aim of the present study was to compare the incidence and characteristics of football injuries in youth players of two European regions. A total of 444 youth players from the Czech Republic and the Alsace region of France and Germany were followed weekly for 1 year. In 311 players (70%), complete weekly follow-ups over the 1-year period were available. The comparison of injury data revealed no substantial differences between players from the Alsace region and the Czech Republic in injury incidence per 1000 hours of exposure, degree of injury severity, or the circumstances in which the injuries occurred. However, players from the Czech Republic spent more time in training and playing football than did players from the Alsace region, and in the Czech Republic a higher proportion of injuries was caused by foul play. With only a few exceptions, the statistics were similar in the amount of football played as well as in the incidence of injury between different age and skill levels in both European regions.
- MeSH
- americký fotbal zranění MeSH
- fotbal zranění MeSH
- incidence MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- plnění a analýza úkolů MeSH
- rizikové faktory MeSH
- sportovní úrazy epidemiologie MeSH
- tělesná výkonnost MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- srovnávací studie MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
- Francie MeSH
- Německo MeSH
