Injury Patterns among Adult Football Players in Sudan Premier League

1.1. Background: Football is the most famous and most watched sport in the world. Most of the football players are in high risk of getting injured during their professional careers. To play football demands one to be fit. Football players are constantly training to perform at the highest levels and to have enough strength to overcome the demands from the various coaches, staff and fans. During this process, players are exposed to all sorts of trauma and various types of injuries. During the previous few years, the incidence for football related injuries has increased. 1.2. Purpose: Due to lack of previous studies in Sudan, this study is aimed to determine the injury patterns among adult football players in the Premier League in Sudan. 1.3. Objective: To study the injury pattern(s) among adult football players in Khartoum. Injuries resulting from this sport in the Sudan Premier League in Khartoum is the 4th aim of this study. 1.4. Study design: A cross-sectional study design was conducted. 1.5. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study and was conducted in Khartoum State in 2017 involving Premier League football clubs. The target teams included five clubs: Al-Hilal, Meriakh, Al-Ahli, Triat Elbiga and Khartoum Watani. The total number of study participants (i.e. sample size) included 100 adult male football players, with the exception of one team and their players (due to their refusal to participation in this study). The response rate was 80% in the resulting four teams. Data was collected using a questionnaire. 1.6. Results: The prevalence of previous injuries among the players was 23 (23%) and recent injuries rose to 31 players (31%). 1.7. Conclusion: The most common sites for injuries included: the knee, shoulder, hamstring, foot, leg, and back injuries. Among the recent injuries (n=31), the most common type was ruptured muscles reported in 14 (45.5%); ankle injuries 7 (22.6%) and thigh injuries 6 (19.4%) were among the most sites affected. The IV majority of the injuries 23 (74.2%) were on the right side of the body; most of the injuries 23 (82.1%) were caused by trauma and 8 (25.3%) by overuse. Positions played by the injured players includes: midfielder 10 (32.3%); defender 9 (29%); striker 7 (22.6%) and goalkeeper 5 (16.1%). Regarding mechanism of injury: 24 (77.4%) of injuries occurred during matches, 7 (22.6%) during trainings; 17 (54.8%) in pitches with grass; 14 (45.2%) in artificial turf pitches; most of the players 16 (51.6%) changed their footwear every 6 months; 15 (48.4%) of the injuries occurred during sunny weather; 21 (70%) of the injuries happened after player-to-player collisions; collisions while on the pitch accounted for 9 (29%) of injuries. The overall injury prevalence was found to be high, but with lower severities. The most common type of injury found was ruptured muscles.