Epidemiology of muscle strain injuries in female collegiate soccer players over a five-year period

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the epidemiological features of muscle strains in Japanese female collegiate soccer players. We investigated the injury rate, burden, severity, situation, and reoccurrence during five-year seasons. Injury rate and burden were higher during matches than during training. Additionally, more muscle strains occurred in the quadriceps femoris than in the hamstring; therefore, strategies dealing with the loads applied during both splinting and kicking are necessary.

Among the players who suffered muscle strain, 19.4% re-injured the same muscle as previously injured and 21.6% injured other sites. These results suggest that the prevention program of the muscle strain for collegiate female soccer players should be developed because of the fact that previous history of muscle strain increases the risk of re-injury at the same muscle as previously injured and new injuries at other sites.