Information about project titled 'ReadyToPlay – Injury and illness in female elite football players'
ReadyToPlay – Injury and illness in female elite football players
| Details about the project - category | Details about the project - value |
|---|---|
| Project status: | Ongoing |
| Project manager: | Roar Amundsen, Solveig Thorarindsdottir, Markus Vagle |
| Supervisor(s): | Roald Bahr, Merete Møller, Thor Einar Andersen |
| Coworker(s): | Joar Harøy, Håvard Moksnes, Ben Clarsen, Morten Wang Fagerland |
Description
Background: The rapid developments in the women’s game over recent years are likely to have affected the injury risks players currently are facing. We hypothesize that – given the way that the injury pattern of the men’s game has changed over the previous two decades, with an increase in hamstring and groin injuries—the injury pattern in the women’s game may have changed in the same way. Earlier studies recording injuries in female football have also used methods inappropriate to capture overuse injuries and illnesses. Information about risk factors for injuries in female football is currently limited and more research on this topic is needed.
Aims: The primary aim of this study is to survey the patterns of injury and illnesses sustained by female elite football players. A secondary aim is to investigate risk factors for lower extremity injuries in elite female football players, with a particular focus on hamstring and groin injuries.
Methods: This study will use a prospective cohort design and examine the magnitude (prevalence, severity and burden) of injuries and illnesses in the Norwegian female elite football division by establishing a surveillance program starting with the 2020 season. All players will answer the OSTRC questionnaire on health problems weekly and the teams’ medical staff will diagnose all injuries using the Sport Medicine Diagnostic Coding System (SMDCS). Hamstring and hip/groin injuries will be examined by a standardized clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Additionally, we will investigate risk factors for various health problems, using data from periodic health evaluations routinely conducted pre-and post-season.