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Correspondence to Author: Praveen BUDHRANI. 

A-901, Anutham, 90 Feet DP Road, opposite Maratha mandal, Mulund east, India.

DOI: 10.52338/tbjsm.2025.4274

Abstract:

Justification:There is a shortage of evidence concerning the incidence of injuries among male youth football athletes in India, and the risk of reinjury remains uncertain. Hence, this study aimed to (1) ascertain injury patterns and incidence rates in an elite youth football academy in India, (2) monitor overuse and trauma-related injuries over two seasons, and (3) evaluate injury risk across different age groups.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted over the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons involving approximately 90 male athletes from an elite youth football academy in India. Injuries were documented following the consensus statement on injury definitions, with classifications aligned accordingly. Injury incidence was reported as injuries per 1000 hours of exposure and injuries per squad season

Results: Across the two seasons, there were 153 injuries during 19,257 hours of total exposure in 2022-23 and 138 injuries during 19,452 hours in 2023-24. U-19 players had the highest injury incidence in 2022-23, while U-14 players had the highest in 2023-24. Match-related injuries were 2 to 6 times more frequent than training-related injuries, with U-14 players exhibiting the highest match-related injury rates in both seasons. Muscle strains, ruptures, tears, joint sprains, and ligament tears were the most common injury types. U-16 and U-15 players had the highest rates of recurring injuries per 1000 hours of exposure, with U-16 leading in 2022-23 and U-15 in 2023-24. Approximately 35% to 40% of injuries were overuse injuries, with U-15 and U-16 experiencing the highest rates and U-17 the lowest. Most injuries were mild (lasting 4 to 7 days) in 2022-23 and minimal (1 to 3 days) in 2023-24, although severe injuries (>28 days) were most prevalent among U-17 players in 2023-24, followed by U-19 players. The most commonly injured locations were the knee, ankle, groin, and thigh.

Conclusion: This study revealed an average of 27-30 injuries per season per squad, resulting in 339 days lost per squad per season at the elite youth football academy. The findings underscore the need for continued emphasis on injury prevention strategies tailored to different age groups and injury types prevalent among youth football players in India.

Citation:

Dr. PRAVEEN BUDHRANI,A Retrospective Study To Determine Injury Incidences In Indian Male Youth Football Sport Athletes Aged Between 13-18 Years Over Two Years. The British Journal of Sports Medicine 2025.