Sport Sciences researchers from Waseda University in Japan sought understand injuries in female university soccer players. Their prospective study investigating injuries in this population over 3 seasons was recently published in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. They found the overall injury rate was 1.62/1000 athlete exposures and the game injury rate (9.86/1000 athlete exposures) – much higher than the practice injury rate (1.39/1000 athlete exposures). Sprains were the most common injury in games and practices; concussions and meniscal tears were also common during games. The lower limbs, particularly the ankles and feet, were the most common anatomical injury sites in both games and practices. Severe injuries requiring long-term withdrawal were frequently observed during games and practices. These included anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, meniscal injuries, and severe concussions, all of which necessitated prolonged recovery periods and withdrawal from team activities. The table details specific injuries for the lower limb.
Source: Maemichi T, Kumai T. Long-Term Injury Survey in a Japanese University Women’s Soccer Team. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2025;20(4):572-582. doi: 10.26603/001c.132248.
