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Ankle Sprain Injuries and Risk Factors in Amateur Soccer Players During a 2-Year Period

From the Laboratory of Neuromuscular Control and Therapeutic Exercise, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

^* Address correspondence to Eleftherios Kellis, PhD, TEFAA Serres, Serres, 62100, Greece (e-mail: ekellis{at}phed-sr.auth.gr).

Background: Although ankle sprains are common in soccer, the role of various risk factors in amateur soccer players is unclear.

Purpose: To identify the incidence of ankle sprain injuries, associated time loss of participation, and risk factors during two consecutive seasons in amateur players.

Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods: Of 336 athletes enrolled in the study, 312 male amateur soccer players were observed during a 2-year period. Ankle sprain injury incidents, participation time loss, injury mechanisms, ankle region injured, and other risk factors were recorded in games and practice sessions using questionnaires.

Results: During the study 208 ankle injuries were recorded, of which 139 were ankle sprains. These led to 975 sessions lost (on average, 7 lost sessions per injury). Most incidents (80.6%) were contact injuries, occurring mostly in defenders. Injury rates were equal between games and practice, while 61.1% of injuries were observed toward the end of each half of the game (P < .05). The injury incidence rate was higher during the first 2 months of the season as opposed to the last month (P < .05). Multinomial logistic regression showed that previous ankle sprain (P < .05) is a significant predictor of ankle sprain injury.

Conclusion: Ankle sprain injuries in amateur soccer players are primarily contact injuries, occurring mainly in defenders and during both games and practice. It appears that more injuries occur in players with previous ankle injury. Injury rates are higher toward the end of a game and chiefly occur during the first 2 months of the season.

Key Words: injury • ankle • soccer • sport

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