Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
Volume 15, Issue 3 , Pages 207-212, May 2012

The epidemiology of injury for an elite junior Australian Football cohort

  • Ebonie Scase

      Affiliations

    • School of Primary Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
    • ,
  • Mary E. Magarey

      Affiliations

    • International Centre for Allied Health Evidence, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author.
    • ,
  • Samuel Chalmers

      Affiliations

    • International Centre for Allied Health Evidence, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
    • ,
  • Michael Heynen

      Affiliations

    • International Centre for Allied Health Evidence, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
    • Port Adelaide Football Club, Australia
    • ,
  • John Petkov

      Affiliations

    • International Centre for Allied Health Evidence, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
    • Centre for Regional Engagement, University of South Australia, Australia
    • ,
  • Steve Bailey

      Affiliations

    • International Centre for Allied Health Evidence, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Received 12 May 2011; received in revised form 19 November 2011; accepted 2 December 2011. published online 05 January 2012.

Abstract 

Objectives

To implement an injury recording protocol in a junior elite Australian Football competition and determine the injury profile of this population.

Design

Longitudinal cohort study.

Methods

Players from an elite Under 18 Australian Football competition were tracked throughout one football season in terms of participation or non-participation in the football competition. Injury reporting forms were collected for all players who were not available for selection as a result of injury.

Results

The cohort consisted of 532 players who provided consent for inclusion in the study (100% of players in the competition). There were 256 injuries sustained during the season. Results were standardised to a 40 man team to allow comparison with results from the Australian Football League. The injury incidence was 17.1 new injuries per club (95% CI 14.1–19.4), and prevalence 63.3 missed matches per club (95% CI 59.1–67.1). The category “Ankle joint injuries” was the most commonly reported (n=34) and “Collision with another player” was the main injury mechanism (n=75).

Conclusions

The most commonly injured region in junior elite Australian Football was the ankle and collision with another player was the most common injury mechanism. As with previous reports on junior Australian Football, injury incidence was low in comparison to the senior elite competition. Defining the injury profile guides injury prevention strategies. Analysis of injury in junior elite football may provide a unique opportunity to affect both junior and senior injury rates.

Keywords: Sports injury, Australian Football, Junior

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PII: S1440-2440(11)00476-2

doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2011.12.002

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
Volume 15, Issue 3 , Pages 207-212, May 2012

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