The prevalence of injuries in football and futsal university leagues : males vs females

Abstract

The aim of our study is to investigate the difference in inferior limb injuries prevalence and risk factors between gender in futsal and football among university student players in Lebanon Methodology: A self-reported retrospective questionnaire was used to collect data. 125 questionnaires were analyzed. All subjects were students in private and public universities in Beirut. Their age ranged between 18 and 26 years. The population was arranged in four groups: football group, futsal group, female group, and male group. Each group contains 50 subjects. Result: In the whole population (n=100), the rate of injuries was significantly higher in females (82% ; p: 0.01) when compared to males. ACL lesions (75%; p: 0.018), groin injury (66.66% :p: 0.02), and muscle cramps (60% : p: 0.019) were significantly higher in males. The rates of ankle sprain (62.5%; p: 0.018), quadriceps tear (90.9%; p: 0.021) and, the adductors tear (66.66%; p: 0.015) were significantly higher in females. In the football group, females had a higher rate of quadriceps tear (16%; p: 0.03) and males had a higher incidence of groin injuries (16%; p: 0.02). In the futsal group, females had a higher rate of ankle sprain (56%; p: 0.045) and quadriceps tear (24%; p: 0.042). Significant associations were observed between the ankle sprain, starting the game, skipping recovery session and, player position. The rate of injury was not significantly different between futsal and football in the whole population neither in the female group (p > 0.05). In the male group, groin injury was significantly higher in football. A significant association was found between groin injury and playing surface. The rate of this lesion was higher on natural compared with artificial grass.