CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ortop (Sao Paulo) 2024; 59(05): e682-e688
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1785660
Artigo Original
Medicina do Esporte

Ankle Sprains in Brazilian Professional Soccer: Epidemiological Analysis of 126,357 Match Hours[*]

Article in several languages: português | English
1   Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Centro de Traumatologia Esportiva, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
,
2   Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
,
2   Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
,
1   Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Centro de Traumatologia Esportiva, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
,
1   Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Centro de Traumatologia Esportiva, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
,
2   Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to perform an epidemiological analysis of ankle sprains in professional soccer players in Brazil.

Methods This prospective epidemiological study analyzed ankle sprains in professional male soccer athletes during the Brazilian Championship and the Paulista Football Championship from 2016 to 2019. All on-pitch medical care provided in official matches was recorded. The variables evaluated included the age and position of the player, injury diagnosis, pitch site where the injury occurred, playing time, imaging tests performed, surgical treatment, time away from competitions, and injury recurrence. We assessed the incidence of injuries according to the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) incidence formula.

Results Ankle sprains represented 10.17% of total injuries, with a FIFA index equal to 2,002. Lateral ligament injuries represented 53.75% of all sprains. The forwards were the most injured athletes, with 86 lesions. The midfield had the highest number of sprains (75.50%). Almost half (47.04%) of sprains occurred in the final 15 minutes of each half-time. Injuries recurred in 31.22% of cases, and 7.11% of injuries underwent surgical treatment. The average time away from competitions was 13.95 days.

Conclusions Ankle sprains are common injuries in soccer. Although the average time to return to sport is brief, these injuries have a high recurrence rate and are potentially surgical, leading to a longer time off competitions.

Authors' Contribution

All authors contributed to the conception and design of the study. EBSL and PHSL prepared the material preparation, collected data, and performed the analysis. GGA and MC coordinated the research. EBSL, GMS, and EPM wrote the first version of the manuscript. All authors participated in writing the final manuscript and approved it for submission.


Financial Support

The authors declare that they did not receive any financial support from public, commercial, or not-for-profit sources.


Work carried out at the Sports Traumatology Center, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.




Publication History

Received: 30 March 2023

Accepted: 25 September 2023

Article published online:
13 May 2024

© 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda.
Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil

 
  • Referências

  • 1 Junge A, Rösch D, Peterson L, Graf-Baumann T, Dvorak J. Prevention of soccer injuries: a prospective intervention study in youth amateur players. Am J Sports Med 2002; 30 (05) 652-659
  • 2 Cohen M, Abdalla RJ, Ejnisman B, Amaro JT. Lesões ortopédicas no futebol. Rev Bras Ortop 1997; 32 (12) 940-944
  • 3 Aus der Fünten K, Tröß T, Hadji A, Beaudouin F, Steendahl IB, Meyer T. Epidemiology of Football Injuries of the German Bundesliga: A Media-Based, Prospective Analysis over 7 Consecutive Seasons. Sports Med Open 2023; 9 (01) 20
  • 4 Ekstrand J, Tropp H. The incidence of ankle sprains in soccer. Foot Ankle 1990; 11 (01) 41-44
  • 5 de Souza Lima EB, de Godoy GP, Osés GL. et al. Epidemiology of Upper Limb Injuries in two major Brazilian Soccer Championships from 2016 to 2019. J Exp Orthop 2022; 9 (01) 120
  • 6 Nitta CT, Baldan AR, Costa LPB, Cohen M, Pagura JR, Arliani GG. Epidemiology of anterior cruciate ligament injury in soccer players in the Brazilian Championship. Acta Ortop Bras 2021; 29 (01) 45-48
  • 7 Arliani GG, Lara PHS, Margato GF, Cristiano D, Cohen M, Pagura JR. Prospective study of injuries occurred during Brazilian Football Championship in 2019. Acta Ortop Bras 2021; 29 (04) 207-210
  • 8 Arnason A, Gudmundsson A, Dahl HA, Jóhannsson E. Soccer injuries in Iceland. Scand J Med Sci Sports 1996; 6 (01) 40-45
  • 9 Dauty M, Collon S. Incidence of injuries in French professional soccer players. Int J Sports Med 2011; 32 (12) 965-969
  • 10 Sadigursky D, Braid JA, De Lira DNL, Machado BAB, Carneiro RJF, Colavolpe PO. The FIFA 11+ injury prevention program for soccer players: a systematic review. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 2017; 9: 18
  • 11 Kofotolis ND, Kellis E, Vlachopoulos SP. Ankle sprain injuries and risk factors in amateur soccer players during a 2-year period. Am J Sports Med 2007; 35 (03) 458-466
  • 12 Morgan BE, Oberlander MA. An examination of injuries in major league soccer. The inaugural season. Am J Sports Med 2001; 29 (04) 426-430
  • 13 Nery C, Raduan F, Baumfeld D. Foot and ankle injuries in professional soccer players: diagnosis, treatment, and expectations. Foot Ankle Clin 2016; 21 (02) 391-403
  • 14 Junge A, Dvořák J. Football injuries during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Br J Sports Med 2015; 49 (09) 599-602
  • 15 Leventer L, Eek F, Hofstetter S, Lames M. Injury patterns among elite football players: A media-based analysis over 6 seasons with emphasis on playing position. Int J Sports Med 2016; 37 (11) 898-908
  • 16 Hawkins RD, Hulse MA, Wilkinson C, Hodson A, Gibson M. The association football medical research programme: an audit of injuries in professional football. Br J Sports Med 2001; 35 (01) 43-47