Injury Incidence in Sub-21 Male Soccer Players During Regional Games of Sertaozinho-SP 2006

Soccer is one of the most popular and practiced sports in the world. It is a sport in which athletes are submitted to many types and effort intensities. This sport has changed over the years, and instead of emphasizing technique, currently the physical components are more favored, increasing hence the injury risk. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to perform an epidemiological survey of sub-21 male soccer player's injuries in the Regional Games 2006. METHODS: This study was of epidemiological descriptive and analytical type, with a transversal design. All games of the modality were followed, and the injuries found were registered by their prevalence and classification. Injuries were classified according to their profile and anatomical segment and according to athletes' position as well. RESULTS: The highest prevalence of injuries was found in the lower extremities 127 (74.7%), and muscular injuries were the most frequent 64 (37.6%). Midfielders were the most affected players 72 (42.4%). The most frequent injury type in goalkeepers and defenders were contusions with 7 (63.6%) and 11 (50%), respectively. Strikers, outside midfielders and midfielders showed mostly muscular injuries, with 11 (36.7%), 12 (34.3%) and 33 (45.8%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study demonstrated higher incidence of injuries in lower extremities in sub-21 soccer players, being muscular injuries the most common ones. The results also suggest that injuries are directly related with the characteristics of each athlete's position.