Article
Four distinct mechanisms of anterior cruciate ligament injury in professional women’s football: A video analysis of 35 match injuries
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Published: | October 23, 2023 |
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Outline
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Objectives: To identify patterns and mechanisms of ACL injury in professional women's football by means of video match analysis.
Methods: ACL match injuries throughout the seasons 2016–17 to 2021–22 in the German women’s First Bundesliga were registered and prospectively analyzed by two expert rater using a standardized observation form. Epidemiological and injury data and past medical history of ACL tear were obtained from media analysis and from the statutory accident insurance for professional athletes (VBG).
Results and conclusion: 35 ACL injuries sustained during official matches could be identified for video analysis, of which 22 (63%) had associated knee injury, mainly meniscus and collateral ligament injury. Contact patterns categorized yielded 15 (43%) non-contact injuries, 14 (40%) indirect contact injuries and 6 (17%) direct contact injuries. Of the 15 non-contact ACL injuries, 7 (47%) were sustained during the first 15 minutes. No significant differences could be seen in contact mechanism for first-time ACL injury and ACL re-injury to the same or contralateral side. The injury situations were dominated by horizontal movements, such as sprinting (n=7, 20%). change-of-direction manoeuvres (n=5, 14%), stopping (n=5, 14%) and lunging (n=5, 14%). Four typical repetitive distinct injury patterns of ACL match injuries were identified: a) non-contact ‘Defensive pressing and abrupt stop ACL injury’ (n=6), b) ‘Non-contact landing ACL injury’ (n=4), c) Indirectcontact mechanism ‘Parallel sprint and tackle ACL injury’ (n=7), and d) direct contact ‘Knee-to-knee ACL injury’ (n=6).
In conclusion, most of the identified ACL injury mechanisms in professional women’s football demonstrate great injury preventive potential.