Football injuries at Asian tournaments.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the incidences and patterns of injuries that required medical attention among Asian football players.


METHODS
A total of 411 Asian football players at both senior and youth (U-20) elite levels were observed during 50 international matches. Independent injury observers and team doctors determined the occurrence of injuries and recorded the location, type, time, and circumstances of the injuries using a protocol sheet.


RESULTS
The overall injury frequency rate was 45.8 out of 1000 hours. As the tournaments progressed into the knockout stages, the incidence and severity of the injuries increased. The most common sites of injuries were the knees (18.5%), lower legs (17.3%), and ankles (14.2%). Although most injuries were diagnosed as contusions, the more serious injuries were those diagnosed as sprains (especially concerning the knee and ankle) or strains (thigh and back).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidences of injuries to Asian football players were higher than those to European players, but the patterns of the injuries showed no major differences.


CONCLUSIONS
To develop an injury-prevention program, more solid and comprehensive data need to be collected to identify the risk factors and variables associated with higher incidences of injuries to Asian football players.
Yoon
Young Sul
YS
Department of Neurosurgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Chai
Michelle
M
Shin
Dong Won
DW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D012307:Risk Factors; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries*