Key result
Prior injury links to lower FMS scores and movement imbalances in African women football players.
Why the study?
Injury prevention in football requires establishing injury risk factors, but such studies are rarely conducted in women athletes in Africa.
Cross-Sectional (n=40)
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
African women football players present with low muscle endurance and movement imbalances, highlighting the need for targeted strength and conditioning to prevent injuries.
Being injured is inherent to participating in football activities; therefore, prevention of injuries is crucial. This requires that the risk factors for injury be established. However, such studies are rarely conducted in women athletes in Africa. The study’s aim was to explore intrinsic risk factors for injury among African women football players using functional and musculoskeletal assessments. Participants (n=40) completed demographic questionnaires; upper and lower limb active range of motion (AROM); muscle endurance and functional movement screening (FMS™) assessed. Median age [Q1; Q3] was 24 [20; 27] years. Participants performed 20.5 [0; 30.5] push-ups and 28 squats [30; 38] in 60s; and held the prone elbow plank for 46.2s [30.6; 64.5]. Median FMS™ score was 12 [10; 13]; most players (n=27, 68%) could not execute a proper deep squat. Most players (70%; n=28), were able to properly perform the in line lunge but scored poorly in the shoulder mobility domain of the FMS™, with 73% (n=29) scoring ≤1. Players with a history of injury had lower FMS™ total (p=0.02). Overall, participants presented with low muscle endurance and movement imbalances, which might predispose them to injury. Hence, strength and conditioning measures should be instituted in this population to prevent injuries.
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Mkumbuzi et al. (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in Injury risk in women football players (n=40). Functional and musculoskeletal characteristics was evaluated on Functional Movement Screen (FMS) total score. African women football players demonstrated low muscle endurance and movement imbalances, with a median Functional Movement Screen score of 12, which was significantly lower in players with a history of injury (p=0.02).
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