Injury Prevalence Among Females Playing American Football

While extensive research has examined injuries in men's football, there is a significant lack of studies systematically investigating the types, patterns, and long-term effects of injuries among female football players. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating the types and frequencies of injuries sustained by female American football players. A recruitment letter was sent via email, and following approval, an anonymous online survey was distributed to collect data from participants about their injuries during the 2023 season. The study included 13 teams from the WFA Pro division, with a total of 647 players, recruiting 245 participants aged 19 to 39, all with at least one year of contact football experience. Data analysis using MANCOVA and ANOVA in SPSS showed statistically significant differences between both contact and non-contact injuries, as well as between lower and upper extremity injury frequencies. There was a significant difference between contact and non-contact injuries (t=44.583, p<0.001), with 178 contact injuries compared to 66 non-contact injuries. Additionally, there was a significant difference between upper and lower extremity injuries (t=47.78, p<0.001), with 103 upper extremity injuries and 130 lower extremity injuries. The findings underscore the importance of anatomical, physiological, and hormonal factors in female athletes' injury susceptibility. Targeted training and prevention strategies are crucial for reducing injury risk and enhancing athlete safety. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to track injury patterns, expand demographic scopes, and compare experiences between male and female athletes, enhancing prevention efforts in the process. Keywords: women’s football alliance, anterior cruciate ligament, concussion, quadricep angle, female athlete triad, energy availability, menstrual cycle