Risk Factors for Lower Extremity Injuries in Injured and Non-Injured Football Players of Sikkim

Abstract

This study aims to find out the percentage association of risk factors for lower extremities injuries in injured and non-injured football players and to compare the risk factors among injured and non-injured football players in Sikkim. A cross sectional study using purposive sampling was done among all football players in Sikkim. Logistic regression was performed to ascertain the effects of name, age, weight, gender, BMI, flexibility, ROM on the likelihood that participants will have an injury. Significant correlation between players with decreased flexibility of the hamstring muscles (less than 90°), quadriceps muscles, ROM of ankle joint and the occurrence of an injury was found. The logistic regression analysis identified decreased flexibility of the hamstring muscles, quadriceps muscle and ROM of ankle joint as an intrinsic risk factor for the development of a muscle injury with statistically significant. So, according to equation, flexibility of Hamstring muscle of right leg has odds ratio of .286, flexibility of Hamstring muscle of left leg has odds ratio of 3.736, flexibility of Quadriceps muscle of right leg has odds ratio of 1.375, flexibility of Hamstring muscle of left leg has odds ratio of .760 and Range of motion of Ankle Eversion right joint has odds ratio of .567 to cause injury. In conclusion football players with hamstring muscle flexibility of less than 90° have a significantly higher risk for injuries and should be advised to perform a thorough stretching program to decrease their injury risk.