Schulz Sebastian Viktor Waldemar, Matits Lynn, Schwarz Eric, Jerg Achim, Otte Moritz, Wiedemann Patrick, Bizjak Daniel Alexander, Kirsten Johannes, Henze Alexander-Stephan
Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Clinical & Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Jun 4;17(1):143. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01190-7.
Youth football players are at high risk of lower limb injuries, which can affect performance and long-term career development. However, epidemiological data on injury patterns in German elite youth football remain limited. This study aims to (1) provide an overview of lower limb injuries in German elite youth football academies and (2) investigate the association between anthropometric factors, particularly genu varum, and injury risk.
This cross-sectional study included 381 healthy male football players (aged 10-23 years) from two German elite youth academies between 2021 and 2023. Injury history from the most recent full league season, including pre-season and regular season matches, was recorded. Anthropometric assessments included body composition and intercondylar distance of the knee (ICD) to evaluate genu varum.
A total of 140 lower limb injuries were documented, resulting in a cumulative injury frequency of 0.39 and an incidence of 1.2 injuries per 1,000 h. Most injuries were muscle-tendon injuries in the thigh (36.4%) and ligament injuries in the ankle (35.0%). Injury hot spots included lateral ligament tears in the ankle (30.0%) and muscle injuries within a triangle of the hamstrings (12.9%), quadriceps (10.7%), and adductors (11.4%) in the thigh. Injury frequency significantly increased from age 13 (p =.013; OR = 2.29), particularly in the thigh (p =.027; OR = 3.28). Regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between age (p =.038; coefficient of variation (COV) = -0.07) and ICD (p =.003; COV = -0.01) on the number of injuries, suggesting a potential link between genu varum and increased injury risk.
This study provides the first structured overview of lower limb injuries in two German elite youth football academies and their association with anthropometric data. The findings highlight age-related injury patterns and suggest a potential link between genu varum and injury risk, underlining the need for targeted injury prevention strategies. Establishing a systematic, long-term injury surveillance system in youth football is essential for developing evidence-based interventions to reduce injury risk and support player development.
青少年足球运动员下肢受伤风险较高，这可能会影响其表现及长期职业发展。然而，关于德国精英青少年足球伤病模式的流行病学数据仍然有限。本研究旨在：（1）概述德国精英青少年足球学院下肢伤病情况；（2）调查人体测量学因素，尤其是膝内翻与受伤风险之间的关联。
这项横断面研究纳入了2021年至2023年间来自两所德国精英青少年足球学院的381名健康男性足球运动员（年龄在10 - 23岁之间）。记录了最近一个完整联赛赛季（包括季前赛和常规赛）的伤病史。人体测量评估包括身体成分和膝关节髁间距离（ICD）以评估膝内翻情况。
共记录到140例下肢伤病，累积伤病频率为0.39，每1000小时的发病率为1.2次伤病。大多数伤病为大腿部肌腱损伤（36.4%）和脚踝部韧带损伤（35.0%）。伤病热点部位包括脚踝外侧韧带撕裂（30.0%）以及大腿部腘绳肌（12.9%）、股四头肌（10.7%）和内收肌（11.4%）构成的三角形区域内的肌肉损伤。伤病频率从13岁起显著增加（p = 0.013；比值比（OR）= 2.29），尤其是在大腿部（p = 0.027；OR = 3.28）。回归分析显示年龄（p = 0.038；变异系数（COV）= -0.07）和ICD（p = 0.003；COV = -0.01）与伤病数量之间存在显著相关性，表明膝内翻与受伤风险增加之间可能存在联系。
本研究首次对两所德国精英青少年足球学院的下肢伤病情况及其与人体测量数据的关联进行了结构化概述。研究结果突出了与年龄相关的伤病模式，并表明膝内翻与受伤风险之间可能存在联系，强调了针对性预防伤病策略的必要性。在青少年足球中建立系统的长期伤病监测系统对于制定基于证据的干预措施以降低受伤风险和支持球员发展至关重要。
