Epidemiology of injuries in male and female youth football players: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological data of injuries in male and female youth football players. Methods: Searches were performed in MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and SPORTDiscus databases. Studies were con-sidered if they reported injury incidence rate in male and female youth (<= 19 years old) football players. Two reviewers (FJRP and ALV) extracted data and assessed trial quality using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement and the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach determined the quality of evidence. Studies were combined using a Poisson random effects regression model.Results: Forty-three studies were included. The overall incidence rate was 5.70 injuries/1000 h in males and 6.77 injuries/1000 h in females. Match injury incidence (14.43 injuries/1000 h in males and 14.97 injuries/1000 h in females) was significantly higher than training injury inci-dence (2.77 injuries/1000 h in males and 2.62 injuries/1000 h in females). The lower extremity had the highest incidence rate in both sexes. The most common type of injury was muscle/tendon for males and joint/ligament for females. Minimal injuries were the most common in both sexes. The incidence rate of injuries increased with advances in chronological age in males. Elite male players presented higher match injury incidence than sub-elite players. In females, there was a paucity of data for comparison across age groups and levels of play.Conclusion: The high injury incidence rates and sex differences identified for the most common location and type of injury reinforce the need for implementing different targeted injury-risk mitigation strategies in male and female youth football players.

Automated summary

This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of injury data in male and female youth football players. The results showed that the injury incidence rate was 5.70/1000 hours in males and 6.77/1000 hours in females. Match injuries were more common than training injuries. The lower extremity was the most common location for injuries in both sexes. Muscle/tendon injuries were most common in males, while joint/ligament injuries were most common in females. The incidence rate of injuries increased with age in males. Elite male players had a higher match injury incidence than sub-elite players. Limited data were available for females in terms of age groups and levels of play.