Bolling Caroline, Tomás Rita, Verhagen Evert
Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Locatie AMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam Collaboration for Health and Safety in Sports, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Br J Sports Med. 2024 Feb 20. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2023-106891.
To explore the beliefs and perceptions of professional female footballers and staff regarding injury prevention and performance protection in professional women's football.
This qualitative study applied semistructured interviews with 18 participants from 3 top-tier teams from 2 countries (Portugal and England) and 4 nationalities, including 2 physiotherapists, 5 players, 3 team doctors, 2 head coaches, 3 strength and conditioning coaches, 2 managers, and 1 head of performance. Data analysis applied constant comparison analysis, using principles of grounded theory. There were no major differences in the perspectives of players and staff, and the findings are presented together.
Identifying and reporting injuries and recognising potential injury risk factors were mentioned to influence the prevention of injury. Participants stated that the growth and evolution of women's football could influence injury risk. Before reaching the professional level, exposure to potential risk factors, such as lack of recovery, limited awareness and opportunities for prevention (eg, preventive exercises and load management strategies), was believed to impact players' injury risk. Players further described their experiences and the 'bumpy road' to becoming a professional player, their current context and potential future improvements for women's football regarding injury prevention and performance protection.
Professional female football players face different injury risks during different moments of their careers. According to elite players and staff, amateur and semiprofessionals have limited resources and lack injury prevention strategies. Professional players and staff perceived the current preventive measures as good and relied on the value of individualised care and a multidisciplinary approach. In the future, more resources and structured injury prevention strategies are needed in youth and non-professional levels of women's football to reduce injury risk and allow more players to reach their maximal performance.
探讨职业女足运动员和工作人员对职业女子足球运动中预防伤病及保护运动表现的看法和认知。
本定性研究采用半结构化访谈，对来自2个国家（葡萄牙和英国）、4个国籍的3支顶级球队的18名参与者进行了访谈，其中包括2名物理治疗师、5名球员、3名队医、2名主教练、3名体能教练、2名经理和1名表现主管。数据分析采用持续比较分析，运用扎根理论原则。球员和工作人员的观点没有重大差异，研究结果一并呈现。
识别和报告伤病以及认识潜在的伤病风险因素被提及会影响伤病预防。参与者表示，女子足球的发展和演变可能会影响伤病风险。在达到职业水平之前，接触潜在风险因素，如恢复不足、预防意识和机会有限（如预防性训练和负荷管理策略），被认为会影响球员的伤病风险。球员们进一步描述了他们成为职业球员的经历和“坎坷之路”、他们目前的情况以及女子足球在伤病预防和运动表现保护方面未来可能的改进。
职业女足运动员在其职业生涯的不同阶段面临不同的伤病风险。据精英球员和工作人员称，业余和半职业球员资源有限，缺乏伤病预防策略。职业球员和工作人员认为目前的预防措施很好，并依赖个性化护理和多学科方法的价值。未来，女子足球的青年和非职业层面需要更多资源和结构化的伤病预防策略，以降低伤病风险，让更多球员发挥出最大水平。
