Female footballers sustain more hamstring injuries as a result of indirect contact.
That’s according to a study conducted by Isokinetic, London’s leading clinic for injury prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. As part of the study, they analysed 129 severe hamstring injuries using a number of video analysis techniques by some of Europe’s leading experts in sports medicine. The main findings illustrated that female players had a higher number of injuries contracted through indirect contact, running and kicking injuries and a smaller number of non-contact and stretch injuries than their male counterparts.
Following the study, a comparative analysis was undertaken to look at how accurate the results of any kind of research which looked in to how different players contracted injuries when taking part in the same form of physical activity. It looked in to the mechanisms and situational patterns which are used in men’s and women’s football. It concluded that understanding injury patterns can inform tailored prevention programs which can look in to detail in to sex specific differences.
Dr Matthew Stride, Isokinetic Sports Doctor and former Club Doctor, Brentford FC, said; “This is an important study. It has provided a degree of analysis to the pattern and biomechanics of how hamstring injury occurs but also identifies key differences between genders and how injury is sustained. Women had a high proportion of indirect contact and running and kicking injuries and if we can understand these injuries better, then we can tailor these prevention plans and techniques as the women’s game grows. There is massive potential to increase conditioning in female players to mitigate these injuries.”
There were various assessments made in to the length of time it takes for varying hamstring injuries to heal. It was revealed that a severe injury can lead to a player missing a whole month of training or play which can lead to them experiencing many adverse reactions which can affect their whole career. If they are unable to train due to injury, this has an effect on their fitness levels which may lead to them not playing for longer periods of time.
The research identifies four patterns in the way hamstring injuries are sustained:
1. Indirect contact injury i.e. Running – higher instance in women
2. Sprint type injury
3. Stretch type injury
4. Kicking type injury – higher instance in women
Dr Stride continues: “It has shown that the vast majority of the injuries in women come from indirect contact; that is the slight contact of trunk and pelvis. Women are more flexible but may be becoming less flexible the more that they are conditioned. Female players may be increasing the strength of the quads, and as women tend to have more of anterior pelvic tilt therefore the hamstring will be under more of a stretch. It could be that female players are getting tighter and more dominant through their quads and less through their hamstrings.”
Andrea Tartaglia, Managing Director, Isokinetic London, said; “The more and more data we get and the more analysis helps us to tailor treatment and help to improve injury prevention. Hamstring injuries are on the rise across the board. All players should be as fit as possible and prevention and minimise risk. Muscle fibre types and muscle strength can be modified as a result of change and conditioning. There are certain intervention strategies that can mitigate this. As a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, we see a different range of players, from recreational to professionals.”
The results of the study which have been approved by football’s world governing body FIFA show how having a player fully fit before playing in any competitive matches can help prevent any sort of injury, thus helping to extend their career as a whole. The unique pathway is meticulously tailored to patient recovery. From welcome reception, appointment making, and treatment, everything is geared to the individual patient whether treating an elite athlete preparing for competition or a person experiencing a degenerative condition like osteoarthritis.
