Abstract
Objective. To determine whether a relationship exists between the functional movement analysis (FMA) score and lower-body injury rates in high-performance adolescent female football players.Method. Observations included a baseline FMA score and medical injury reports. Data were collected from 24 players’ injury and illness records over a 38-week training period. All football injuries requiring medical attention (including stiffness, strains, contusions and sprains) and/or the removal from a session, leading to training restriction, were included in the study. Off-season weeks were excluded. Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient was calculated to assess the strength of the linear relationship between the FMA score and the number of medical visits, and between the number of medical visits and the number of training-restriction days.Results. There was no evidence of a relationship between the FMA score and injury risk in teenage female football players (r=0.016; p=0.940). A strong indication of a cyclical season in the training schedule was noticed over the 38-week study period. A substantive negative correlation (r=-0.911; p=0.032) was seen in the number of medical visits compared with the training-restriction days. Injuries during two peak periods could have resulted from overuse, increased training load, stress and overtraining.Conclusion. It could not be shown that a high FMA score was associated with a lower risk of injury. The ultimate goal is thus to reduce recurrent injury in players with a high FMA count. The regular medical visits observed suggest that player condition is maintained by means of reducing injury and managing training-restriction days. Our findings are in accordance with previous studies in terms of the lower limb being the most frequent region of injury, specifically the knee. This study supports previous suggestions that it is essential to develop a prevention strategy to measure trauma and recovery.
Highlights
MethodsPopulation This was a descriptive pilot study based on the results of the highperformance programme of the 2012 SAFA/LOTTO Basetsana Football Academy at the University of Pretoria in South Africa
Twenty-four adolescent female football players participated in the investigation
The functional movement analysis (FMA) score rated average according to the FMA score card
Summary
Population This was a descriptive pilot study based on the results of the highperformance programme of the 2012 SAFA/LOTTO Basetsana Football Academy at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Twenty-four adolescent female football players participated in the investigation. The players, aged 13 - 18 years, were assigned over a 38-week training period (January to September 2012). This period coincided with the athletes’ respective training and tournament season. It excluded the off-season period of October - December 2012. Injuries and illnesses Injury and illness surveillance included assessment by doctors and physiotherapists. Players had free access to the medical staff at all times. Attention was given to all football injuries requiring medical attention (including stiffness, strains, contusions and sprains) and/or the removal from a session, leading to training restriction
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
