Ecological determinants of Football Injuries: A Case Study of Lusaka Based FAZ Football Teams
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Date
2013-04-15
Authors
Mwandila, Donald
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Abstract
Background: In Zambia, the rate of occurrence of injuries in the super division and
division one teams, which are highly competitive leagues, have not been
documented. Currently, there is a wide gap of information about football injuries
because there is no routine injury surveillance system in place within FAZ that
captures all time-loss injuries suffered by players.
Research questions: Based on the statement of the problem, this study sought to
answer the following research questions: What is the prevalence of injuries in
football teams affiliated to FAZ? What types of injuries are sustained by football
players? In addition, what factors contribute to football injuries?
Methodology: This was a cross sectional exploratory and descriptive study involving
seven teams or clubs in Super League and six in division one. Two hundred and
seventeen players were randomly sampled. A survey questionnaire was
administered to all eligible players. Univariate, bivariate analysis and multivariate
analyses were done after recoding the data. Statistical analyses were performed with
use of the Statistical Analysis System 6.03 edition (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, North
Carolina). The Wilcoxon test was used for comparison of median values when the
distributions were not normal, as was the case for many of the variables examined
(age, levels of education, level of playing football, experience, intrinsic and extrinsic
factors). The chi-square and Fisher’s exact test were used for comparisons of
categorical data. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used as an exploratory
technique to determine whether baseline variables were associated with the
occurrence of subsequent injury. A p value 0.05 was used to define statistical
significance.
Results: n = 71 football players were on the injury list. Of these 71, n = 15 were from
the super division and n = 56 were from the first division. Injury rate showed no
statistical association between level of playing football (value = 0. 331, df = 1 and the
observed p value was = 0.565. n = 170 (78.3%) had not suffered a similar injury
before during training as compared to those who had suffered from any injury n = 47
(21.7%). Footballers sustained injuries afflicting nearly every organ or site. There
was no significant difference in terms of type of injury sustained if we examined the
level of playing be it super division and division I (p was 0.00, t was 61.77 at df
216).While footballers could be injured under various, contact mediated mechanisms
n = 52 (24.0%) seemed to have a greater effect, than running n = 41 (18.9%) and
collisions. Circumstances n = 36 (16.6%). All injury factors were not statistically
significantly associated with football injuries within the teams. However, regression
analyses show linear relationships between unsuitable equipment as well as
unsuitable turf to be responsible for injuries in both the super league division and
division leagues.
Conclusions: This study illustrates that the rate (32.7%) of self-reported and
observed football injuries among super division and division I football teams is
worrisome. Ecologic factors are not statistically associated with football injuries.
This was the first study to evaluate the rate of football injuries and see how these are
associated with ecological factors in this part of the world. Future studies may need
to be extended to other towns and lower leagues to have a broader picture. There is
need to address preventive and health promotional needs of football players.
1
CHAPTER ONE - BACKGROUND
1.0 Introduction
Description
Keywords
Football inuries--Zambia , Soccer , Sports injuries--Zambia