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Magistrali M, Stefanini L, Abate M, Biancalana G, Stegagno A, Cugia P, Candoli P, Anania G, Lucchese PL, Gaddi D, Volpi P, Mariani F, Boldrini L, Filippi N, Cerrone A, Sirtori C, Battaglino P, Bravin G, Del Fabro E, Berti M, Vecchini E, Minetto MA. Epidemiology of Non-Contact Muscle Injuries in the Italian Male Elite Under-19 Football (Soccer) Championship. SPORTS MEDICINE - OPEN 2024; 10:75. [PMID: 38902551 PMCID: PMC11190129 DOI: 10.1186/s40798-024-00738-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While extensive research exists on muscle injuries among adult football players, a notable gap persists in studies concerning younger footballers. The aim of the current study is to provide epidemiological data on the characteristics of time-loss muscle injuries in young football players participating in the Italian Under-19 male elite Championship ("Primavera 1"). RESULTS Conducted as a multicentre, prospective, observational cohort study, this research gathered injury data from the 2022-23 season across 14 of the 18 Clubs in the first Italian Under-19 championship. The cohort comprised 391 players with a mean age (± standard deviation) of 18.0 ± 0.4 years. A total of 479 injuries were reported, resulting in 14,231 days of activity lost. Of these, muscle injuries were 209 (44%), accounting for 4,519 (32%) days lost. Overall muscle injuries incidence was 1.82/1000 hours, with a mean injury burden of 39.4 days lost/1000 hours. Almost all muscle injuries (206 out of 209: 98.5%) occurred in hamstrings, quadriceps, adductors, calf and iliopsoas. Hamstrings injuries were the most burdensome (18.8 days lost/1000 hours) accounting for nearly half of all days lost due to muscle injuries. Incidence and burden of adductors injuries (0.25 injuries and 4.1 days lost/1000 hours, respectively) were found to be comparable to calf injuries (0.24 injuries and 4.7 days lost/1000 hours, respectively). Iliopsoas injuries accounted for a noteworthy portion of the total, with an injury incidence of 0.16/1000 hours and a burden of 3.3 days lost/1000 hours. Injuries with myo-tendinous or myo-aponeurotic involvement demonstrated delayed return-to-football compared to those without such involvement (35.6 vs. 18.5 days, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS The study highlighted a peculiar distribution of non-contact muscle injuries among elite young football players. While hamstring injuries were confirmed as the most burdensome, incidence and burden of adductors and calf injuries were found to be similar. A significant incidence and burden of iliopsoas injuries were observed. These findings suggest potential implementations for targeted injury prevention strategies in the Italian male elite Under-19 football Championship.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Diego Gaddi
- FC Internazionale Milano SpA, Milano, Italy
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Policlinico San Pietro, Ponte San Pietro, Bergamo, Italy
- Transalpine Center of Pediatric Sports Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Monza-Brianza, Italy
| | - Piero Volpi
- Istituto Clinico Humanitas IRCCS Rozzano, Milano, Italy
- FC Internazionale Milano SpA, Milano, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Guido Bravin
- SOC Ortopedia e Traumatologia ASUFC, Udine, Italy
- Udinese Calcio, Udine, Italy
| | | | - Mattia Berti
- Department of Knee Surgery, Policlinico Abano Terme, Abano Terme, Italy
- Hellas Verona Calcio, Verona, Italy
| | - Eugenio Vecchini
- Hellas Verona Calcio, Verona, Italy
- Clinica Ortopedica, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Marco A Minetto
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
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