Injuries in male and female semi-professional football (soccer) players in Nigeria: prospective study of a National Tournament.
BACKGROUND
Research on the epidemiology of football injuries in Africa is very sparse despite its importance for injury prevention planning in a continent with limited sports medicine resources. The vast majority of studies available in literature were conducted in Europe and only a very few studies have prospectively reported the pattern of football injury in Africa. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and pattern of injuries in a cohort of male and female semi-professional football players in Nigeria.


METHODS
A prospective cohort design was conducted, in which a total of 756 players with an age range of 18-32 years (356 males and 300 females) from 22 different teams (12 male and 10 female teams), were prospectively followed in a National Football Tournament. Physiotherapists recorded team exposure and injuries. Injuries were documented using the consensus protocol for data collection in studies relating to football injury surveillance.


RESULTS
An overall incidence of 113.4 injuries/1000 h (95% CI 93.7-136.0) equivalent to 3.7 injuries/match and time-loss incidence of 15.6 injuries/1000 h were recorded for male players and 65.9 injuries/1000 h (95% CI 48.9-86.8) equivalent to 2.2 injuries/match and time-loss incidence of 7.9 injuries/1000 h were recorded for female players. Male players had a significantly higher risk of injuries [IRR = 1.72 (95% CI 1.23-2.45)]. Injuries mostly affected the lower extremity for both genders (n = 81, 70% and n = 31, 62% for males and females respectively). Lower leg contusion (n = 22, 19%) and knee sprain (n = 9, 18%) were the most common specific injury types for male and female players respectively. Most of the injuries were as a result of contact with another player (n = 102, 88%-males; n = 48, 96%-females). Time-loss injuries were mostly estimated as minimal (n = 11, 69%) for male players and severe (n = 4, 66%) for female players.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall incidence of injuries among Nigerian semi-professional football players is high but most of the injuries do not result in time-loss. Pattern of injuries is mostly consistent with previous studies. More prospective studies are needed to establish injury prevention initiatives among African players.
Orthopaedic and Sports Physiotherapy Unit, Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria. obowoeye@unilag.edu.ng.|Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. obowoeye@unilag.edu.ng.
Oluwatoyosi Babatunde Alex
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5984-9821
OB
Owoeye
Orthopaedic and Sports Physiotherapy Unit, Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Ayoola Ibifubara
AI
Aiyegbusi
Orthopaedic and Sports Physiotherapy Unit, Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Oluwaseun Akinleye
OA
Fapojuwo
Orthopaedic and Sports Physiotherapy Unit, Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Oluwaseun Abdulganiyu
OA
Badru
Orthopaedic and Sports Physiotherapy Unit, Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Anike Rasheedat
AR
Babalola
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
Africa; Epidemiology; Injury prevention; Soccer