Kerstin Söderman

Injuries in adolescent female players in European football: a prospective study over one outdoor soccer season

In this prospective study, injuries in 153 adolescent female soccer players were recorded during one outdoor season (April–October). The overall injury incidence rate was 6.8 per 1000 h soccer (games and practice) and the incidence rate of traumatic injury 9.1 and 1.5 per 1000 player‐hours in games and practice, respectively. Sixty‐three players (41%) sustained 79 injuries. Sixty‐six percent of the injuries were traumatic and 34% were overuse injuries. Most of the traumatic injuries occurred during games. Eighty‐nine percent of the injuries were located in the lower extremities and 42% occurred in the knee or ankle. The most frequent type of injury was ankle sprain (22.8%). Forty‐one percent of the traumatic injuries and 56% of the ankle sprains were re‐injuries. Most of the injuries were of moderate severity (52%), while 34% were minor and 14% were major. Most of the major injuries were traumatic such as knee ligament injuries and ankle sprains.

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries in young females playing soccer at senior levels.

The aim of this investigation was to study the consequences of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female soccer players. Special interest was focused on young female soccer players (< 16 years) sustaining anterior cruciate ligament injuries when playing at a senior level, which means playing together with players 19 years or older. In Sweden, all players belonging to an organized soccer club are insured by the same insurance company, the Folksam Insurance Company. Data of all soccer‐related knee injuries in females reported to the Folksam Insurance Company between 1994 and 1998 were collected. A questionnaire was sent to 978 females who were registered to have sustained a knee injury before the age of 20 years. The response rate was 79%. Three hundred and ninety‐eight female soccer players who had sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury before the age of 19 years were analysed. Most of their anterior cruciate ligament injuries had been diagnosed using arthroscopy or magnetic resonance imaging (84%). Thirty‐eight percent of the players had been injured before the age of 16 years. Of these, 39% were injured when playing in senior teams. When playing in senior teams 59% of the players below the age of 16 years and 44% of the players 16 years or older sustained their ACL injuries during contact situations. At the time of this investigation (2–7 years after the anterior cruciate ligament injury), altogether 78% (n = 311) reported that they had stopped playing soccer. The most common reason (80%) was symptoms from their anterior cruciate ligament‐injured knee. It appears that many young female soccer players injure their anterior cruciate ligament when playing at a senior level. Therefore, we suggest that female soccer players under the age of 16 years should be allowed to participate only in practice sessions but not games at a senior level.

Bone Mass and Muscle Strength in Young Female Soccer Players

Abstract. In this cross-sectional study, bone mass and muscle strength of the thigh were investigated in 51 female soccer players, age 16.3 ± 0.3 years, who had been playing soccer for 8.1 ± 2.1 years and were at the time of the study in soccer training for 5.0 ± 1.7 hours/week. They were compared with 41 nonactive females, age 16.2 ± 1.3 years. The groups were matched according to age, weight, and height. Areal bone mineral density (BMD) was measured of the total body, head, lumbar spine, femoral neck, Wards triangle, and the greater trochanter using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Isokinetic muscle strength of the quadriceps and hamstrings muscles was measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. Compared with the nonactives, the soccer players had significantly higher BMD of the total body (2.7%), lumbar spine (6.1%), the dominant and nondominant hip (all sites). The largest differences were found in the greater trochanter on both sides (dominant, 16.5%, nondominant, 14.8%). The soccer players had significantly higher concentric and eccentric peak torque of the thigh muscles. In the soccer group, there was only a positive association between thigh muscle strength and BMD of the adjacent hip, and in the nonactive group there were several positive associations between muscle strength and BMD. However, when adjusting for the variation in weight and height all these associations became nonsignificant. Using multiple linear regression, the type of activity (soccer player, nonactive) independently predicted BMD of all dominant hip sites (β= 0.32–0.48, P < 0.01). No other variable was found to independently predict BMD of any site. In the younger subjects (≤16 years) only BMD of the greater trochanter was significantly higher in the soccer players. In the older subjects (>16 years) the soccer players had significantly higher BMD in all measured sites except for the nonweight-bearing head. The differences in muscle strength between soccer players and nonactives were already seen in the young age group. In conclusion, girls who train and play soccer in adolescence have a higher bone mass in the hip and lumbar spine, and a higher muscle strength of the thigh compared with nonactive controls, indicating a site-specific skeletal response of weight-bearing and impact-loadng acting on the skeleton. The differences in bone mass were already apparent in early adolescence, but became more pronounced in late adolescence, probably explained by a longer exposure to soccer training with time. Our results also indicate that muscle strength in itself might not be of decisive importance for bone mass in the hip of adolescent females.

High prevalence of jumper's knee and sonographic changes in Swedish elite junior volleyball players compared to matched controls

Background: Jumper’s knee is a common and troublesome condition among senior volleyball players, but its prevalence among elite junior players compared to matched non-sports active controls is not known. Objective: To clinically, and by sonography, examine the patellar tendons in elite junior volleyball players (15–19 years) at the Swedish National Centre for volleyball and in matched controls. Methods: The patellar tendons in the 57 students at the Swedish National Centre for high school volleyball and in 55 age, height, and weight matched not regularly sports active controls were evaluated clinically and by grey scale ultrasonography (US) and power Doppler (PD) sonography. Results: There were no significant differences in mean age, height, and weight between the volleyball players and the controls. In the volleyball group, jumper’s knee was diagnosed clinically and by US in 12 patellar tendons (10 male and two female). In 12/12 tendons, PD sonography demonstrated a neovascularisation in the area with structural tendon changes. In another 10 pain free tendons, there were structural tendon changes and neovessels. In the control group, no individual had a clinical diagnosis of jumper’s knee. US demonstrated structural tendon changes in 11 tendons, but there was no neovascularisation on PD sonography. Conclusions: A clinical diagnosis of jumper’s knee, together with structural tendon changes and neovascularisation visualised with sonography, was seen among Swedish elite junior volleyball players but not in matched not regularly sports active controls. Structural tendon change alone was seen in 10% of the control tendons.

Shoulder pain – a common problem in world-class badminton players

Badminton is a sport that requires a lot of over‐shoulder motion, with the shoulder in abduction/external rotation. This questionnaire study on 188 international top‐level badminton players during the World Mixed Team Championships showed that previous or present shoulder pain on the dominant side was reported by 52% of the players. Previous shoulder pain was reported by 37% of the players and on‐going shoulder pain by 20% of the players. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of shoulder pain between men and women. The majority of the shoulder pain had started gradually. The pain was usually associated with shoulder activity, and stiffness was a common, associated symptom. Furthermore, the shoulder pain was associated with consequences such as sleeping disturbances, changes in training and competition habits, and it also affected activities of daily living. The majority of the players had sought medical advice and had been given different kinds of treatment. The study showed that shoulder pain is a common and significant problem in world‐class badminton players, and the consequences are most likely of importance for their training and playing capacity.

Increasing physical activity, but persisting social gaps among middle-aged people: trends in Northern Sweden from 1990 to 2007

Background : Physical activity is identified as one important protective factor for chronic diseases. Physical activity surveillance is important in assessing healthy population behaviour over time. Many countries lack population trends on physical activity. Objective : To present trends in physical activity levels in Västerbotten County, Sweden and to evaluate physical activity among women and men with various educational levels. Methods : Population-based cross-sectional and panel data from the Västerbotten Intervention Programme (VIP) during 1990–2007 were used. All individuals in Västerbotten County who turned 40, 50, or 60 years old were invited to their local primary health care for a health screening. Physical activity during commuting, recreational activities, physical exercise, and socio-demographic data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Respondents were categorised as sedentary, moderate physically active, or physically active. Results : The prevalences of physically active behaviours increased from 16 to 24.2% among men and from 12.6 to 30.4% among women. Increases are observed in all educational groups, but gaps between educational groups widened recently. The level of sedentary behaviour was stable over the time period studied. The 10-year follow-up data show that the prevalences of physically active behaviours increased from 15.8 to 21.4% among men and 12.7 to 23.3% among women. However, 10.2% of men and 3.8% of women remained sedentary. Conclusion : Despite the promising evidence of increasing physical activity levels among the population in Västerbotten County, challenges remain for how to reduce the stable levels of sedentary behaviours in some subgroups. Persisting social gaps in physical activity levels should be addressed further. An exploration of peoples views on engaging in physical activity and barriers to doing so will allow better formulation of targeted interventions within this population.

Decreased shoulder function and pain common in recreational badminton players

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and consequences of painful conditions in the shoulder region in recreational badminton players. A questionnaire study was performed on 99 players, of whom 57 were also assessed with Constant score. Previous or present pain in the dominant shoulder was reported by 52% of the players. Sixteen percent of the players had on‐going shoulder pain associated with badminton play. A majority of these players reported that their training habits were affected by the pain. Total Constant score was lower in the painful shoulders. Furthermore, range of active pain‐free shoulder abduction was decreased. However, isometric shoulder strength test showed no differences when compared with pain‐free shoulders. Even though the pain caused functional problems, the players were still playing with on‐going symptoms. The diagnoses were mostly unknown, although history and clinical tests indicate problems resembling subacromial impingement.

Self-reported health and influence on life situation 5–8 years after paediatric traumatic brain injury

Primary objective: During childhood, the central nervous system is in a state of rapid development which can be interrupted by a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study aimed to describe if and how TBI during childhood influences health and life situation, 5–8 years later. Research design: A case-control retrospective design was employed for the assessment of 61 adolescents and young adults with a mild, moderate or severe TBI and 229 matched controls from a normative group (16–24 years). Methods and procedures: SF-36 (Short Form 36 health survey) and a self-reported questionnaire measuring life situation were distributed to youths suffering TBI 5–8 years ago. Forty-five youths (74%) completed the questionnaires. Main outcomes and results: Participants with a TBI stated lower self-estimated health compared with the normative group. Remaining self-reported symptoms were physical and cognitive. Negative effects of TBI influencing school results, leisure activities and thoughts about future life situation were also described. Conclusion: Young individuals experience sustained negative effects of childhood TBI on health and life situation. More research is necessary to detect, understand and properly support these youths.

The relevance of using isokinetic measures to evaluate strength

Abstract Isokinetic testing is often used to evaluate the effect of different types of interventions and also to interpret whether an individual is ready to return to physical activity. However, limited research exists concerning the suitability of evaluating the effect of isotonic training using isokinetic testing. The aim with this study was to assess the relation between the development of force during isokinetic and isotonic concentric maximal contractions. Fifty subjects (24 women and 26 men) performed maximal concentric isokinetic and isotonic elbow flexion. The isokinetic tests were performed in an isokinetic dynamometer and the isotonic tests in a pulley apparatus. The relationship between the isokinetic values (peak value and mean force value) and the isotonic values (1RM) was modeled by linear regression analysis. There was a significant linear correlation between both the isokinetic values and the isotonic value that explained 89% (peak) and 88% (mean) of the variation. From the linear regression analysis, two different formulas were derived to estimate the prediction of the isokinetic values. The significant relation between isokinetic and isotonic measures means that it may be possible to evaluate the effects of isotonic training by using an isokinetic dynamometer. However, there was a large variation around the predicted isokinetic values that has to be considered. It is important to point out that the results of this study are applicable only on healthy young men and women with similar strength as our subjects.

From loss towards restoration: Experiences from anterior cruciate ligament injury

The objective of this study was to illuminate anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-reconstructed athletes’ experience of their injury, rehabilitation and recovery. Seven persons, aged 19–57 years, were ...