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Citation |
Monasterio X, Bidaurrazaga-Letona I, Larruskain J, Lekue JA, Diaz-Beitia G, Santisteban J, Martin-Garetxana I, Gil SM. Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2022, John Wiley and Sons) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
35750986 |
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Abstract |
Maturation progresses at different times and at different rates between individuals. Thus, differences in maturity status exist among players in the same chronological age-based category, especially in U14 players. The purpose of this prospective study was to describe injury burden according to the relative skeletal maturity status in U14 elite academy football [soccer] players. From 2011 to 2020 injuries and individual exposure (training and match) were prospectively recorded in 183 male U14 players. Skeletal age (SA) was assessed using the Tanner-Whitehouse 2 method. Relative skeletal maturity status [SA minus chronological age (CA)] was classified as follows: early (SA-CA > 0.5), on-time (SA-CA ± 0.5) and late (SA-CA < -0.5). Overall and specific injury burden (days lost/1000h) and rate ratios for comparisons between groups were calculated. Overall injury burden was 2.8-times higher (3.6-times in training) in early maturers compared with late maturers. Growth-related injuries were the most burdensome injuries in all three groups, but significant differences were not found between groups. Muscle injuries were 4-times more burdensome in early maturers compared with on-time and late maturers. Besides, joint/ligament injuries were 7- and 12- times less burdensome in late maturers than in on-time and late maturers, respectively. Significant differences between groups in overall and specific injury burden were not found in matches. Our results showed different injury patterns in U14 early, on-time and late maturers. Hence, monitoring maturity seems crucial to detect potential injuries that cause the greatest disruption, and facilitate design of targeted injury prevention programs. Language: en |
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Keywords |
burden; epidemiology; injury; youth; football; adolescence; growth and development; maturation |