Biology of Sport
eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X
Biology of Sport
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abstract:
Original paper

Non-contact injury incidence in professional women’s football depends on the starting status of the player

Victor Moreno-Perez
1, 2
,
Berta Carles Bové
3
,
Javier Courel-Ibáñez
4
,
Juan Del Coso
5
,
Marco Beato
6
,
Eva Ferrer Vidal-Barraquer
7
,
Gil Rodas Font
7

  1. Sports Research Center, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, Alicante, Spain
  2. Center for Translational Research in Physiotherapy. Department of Pathology and Surgery. Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, San Joan, Spain
  3. Sport Performance Department, FC Barcelona Sports, Barcelona, Spain
  4. Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Granada, Spain
  5. Sport Sciences Research Centre, Rey Juan Carlos University, Fuenlabrada, Spain
  6. School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Suffolk, Ipswich, United Kingdom
  7. Medical Department of Futbol Club Barcelona, FIFA Center of Excellence, and Barça Innovation Hub Barcelona, Spain
Biol Sport. 2025;42(3):99–107
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2025.145916
Online publish date: 2025/01/20
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This study aimed to determine differences in the incidence of non-contact injury in professional women football players with different starting statuses. Data from 37 women (age: 28.5±3.9 years; body mass: 62.3±5.2 kg; height: 169.8±4.7 cm) from a professional football team (Professional Women’s Football League from Spain) were prospectively collected during two consecutive seasons. Players were classified according to their match starting status as starters (players with > 70% of matches in the starting lineup; n = 20) and non-starters (n = 17). External load parameters were collected using GPS in all training sessions and matches. Non-contact injuries were diagnosed, classified, and recorded by the medical staff following the IOC consensus. Statistics included comparisons of starters vs. non-starters and linear regression and diagnostic analyses of injured vs. non-injured players. Non-starters accumulated less match load over the season but had two-fold non-contact injury incidence and three-fold muscular injury incidence during matches than starters, despite being exposed to a similar training load. The larger the number of matches played as a starter, the fewer injuries (non-contact: R2 = 0.27, p = 0.01; muscular: R2 = 0.11, p = 0.04). Diagnostic analyses identified clinical thresholds for insufficient match and training loads during the season accounting for higher injury risk. Less than 5,237 decelerations and 25 matches as a starter per season during training was the best indicator to discriminate players with less likelihood of non-contact injury. Football players with less match exposure from a women’s professional squad may be more prone to injury due to under-exposure to the demands of the game.
keywords:

Load monitoring, Performance, Tracking, Soccer, Team sports, Elite athlete

  
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