ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the injury profile in Brazilian elite women's football. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Time-loss injuries, along with match and training exposure, were monitored throughout a full season in four Brazilian elite clubs. RESULTS: Sixty-three out of 133 players (47â¯%) sustained 112 time-loss injuries along the season, leading to 0.8 injuries per player on average. The overall injury incidence rate was 5.0 injuries per 1000â¯h of exposure. Sudden onset injuries occurred at a rate of 4.2/1000â¯h of overall exposure, with rates of 15.9/1000â¯h during matches and 2.9/1000â¯h during training sessions. Forty-eight percent of the time-loss injuries were attributed to non-contact events. Gradual onset injuries accounted for 16â¯% of the injuries, resulting in a rate of 0.8/1000â¯h of overall exposure. The most affected locations were knee and thigh (29â¯% of all injuries for each), followed by ankle (17â¯%) and hip/groin (13â¯%). Muscle/tendon was the most affected tissue (47â¯% of all injuries), followed by ligament/joint capsule (33â¯%), bone (10â¯%), and cartilage/synovium/bursa (7â¯%). Ankle sprains, hamstring strains, and anterior cruciate ligament injuries accounted for over one-third of the injuries. Mild, moderate, and severe injuries account for 40â¯%, 43â¯%, and 17â¯% of cases, respectively. Overall, 18â¯% of cases were categorized as re-injuries, and 40â¯% of those occurred within 2â¯months of the index injury. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the initial understanding into the injury profile of Brazilian elite women's football. This information should serve as a guiding resource for injury prevention programs.