What is the extent of growth-related injuries in the lower extremities in boys’ academy football players?: A one-season prospective cohort study

Abstract

Introduction: Youth academy football players have high injury rates and are prone to growth-related injuries, known as "apophysitis," which are unique to youth sports. These injuries affect the immature skeleton and commonly manifest as Osgood-Schlatter disease, Sinding-Larsen-Johansson syndrome, Sever's disease, pubic apophysitis, and other growth-related injuries at the pelvic. These injuries impact the health and performance of young players, resulting in absence from training and matches. Intensive training during periods of rapid growth may contribute to increased injury rates. This master project aims to investigate the prevalence, incidence, and characteristics of these injuries.

Method: This project is a prospective cohort study conducted in a Norwegian high-level youth football academy during the 2022 season, involving 58 players from the U-14, U-16, and U-19 teams. Weekly monitory of health problems, including injuries and illnesses, was recorded using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Questionnaire on Health Problems 2nd version, to obtain responses from the players.

Results: During the 42-week study period, data collection was completed by 52 players, with a weekly response rate of 91.4%. The average weekly prevalence of self-reported health problems was 37%, and clinically diagnosed growth-related injuries had an average weekly prevalence of 12%. Overall injury incidence for growth-related injuries was 4.6 injuries per 1000 training and match hours. Pubic apophysitis was the most common injury, with a total of 31 growth-related injuries diagnosed. Among these injuries, 77.4% had a gradual onset, and 81% occurred during training. The U-14 group exhibited the highest increases in stature, body mass, and body mass index, and they also had the highest number growth-related injuries throughout the study period.

Conclusion: This project explored the prevalence, incidence, and characteristics of growth-related injuries in high-level boys' academy football players. Pubic apophysitis was the most commonly observed injury. Targeting younger age groups is recommended for further investigation. Standardized guidelines and reporting methods would facilitate future research.