Analysis of lower limb injuries in elite football players

Objectives: Football is a fast-paced contact team sport that makes players vulnerable to various musculoskeletal injuries. While the epidemiology of these injuries has been studied extensively in several national leagues, limited data are available in this regard in the Indian context. The objective of this study is to describe the prevalence of injuries in relation to player position, age, number of matches per season, and leg dominance among elite Indian players participating in the Indian Super League (ISL), an international-level annual league conducted in the Indian subcontinent. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional descriptive study analyzed data from 125 male elite players (mean age 23.96 ± 4.95 years; 8 ± 3.4 mean training years), including player position, age, and injuries, including location, type, and diagnosis, which were collected as part of the pre-competition medical assessment. The cohort comprised 33.32% defenders, 35.24% midfielders, and 31.44% strikers. Descriptive statistical analysis was done. Results: Lower limb injuries accounted for 92.4% of all sustained injuries. The ankle was the most common site of injury (26.02%), with 89.47% managed conservatively. Groin strains (13.69%), hamstring injuries (10.95%), and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries (9.59%) were also commonly prevalent. Players aged 25–29 years were more prone to injuries, and the incidence of ankle injuries increased with match frequency per season. Conclusion: The ankle is the most frequently injured joint during the ISL, followed by groin strains, hamstring injuries, and ACL injuries. Adopting a scientific approach to injury prevention, including load optimization, individualized strength programs, and regular monitoring through athlete monitoring systems, could help reduce this burden.