599 EP024 – Ankle sprains in female futsal players: implications for prevention and recovery

Background With the rise in female Futsal, facilitated by entities like UEFA and FIFA, the frequency of sports-related injuries, notably ankle sprains, is becoming a focal point of concern. As Futsal tests agility in tight spaces, ankle injuries frequently emerge as a key concern for female players Objective To determine the prevalence, immediate effects, and recovery dynamics of ankle sprains in female Futsal players. Design A retrospective observational study over a span of 18 months. Setting Romania's National Futsal Team, encompassing both training and competitive matches. Patients (or Participants) 16 female players from the team who encountered ankle injuries between May 2017 and October 2018. Interventions (or Assessment of Risk Factors) Injuries, whether during training or competitions, were immediately assessed for pain and edema. Standard therapeutic protocols were adopted, encompassing immediate ice application, immobilization, administration of NSAIDs, mio-relaxants, enforced rest (with an abstinence from training and matches). From the subsequent day, therapeutic massages, enhanced NSAID use, antithrombotic agents, and structured physiotherapy were integrated into the recovery regimen. The inherent anatomical and biomechanical predispositions making females more susceptible to such injuries in football were also explored. Main Outcome Measurements Immediate post-injury symptoms, subsequent recovery dynamics, and the effectiveness of the therapeutic interventions, complemented by a medium-term assessment on recovery and re-injury susceptibility. Results Short-term assessments conducted in May 2018 evidenced significant alleviation in injury symptoms, enabling the majority of players to resume their training and competition activities. Medium-term evaluations focused on potential injury recurrence and the comprehensive quality of functional recuperation. Conclusions Ankle sprains remain a dominant concern in female Futsal. Embracing preventive strategies, with an emphasis on strength and stability training, is pivotal to not only foster player well-being but also to assure uninterrupted athletic performance.