Ankle And Foot Injuries Among Tunisian Male Amateur Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective. - We aimed to study ankle and foot injuries profile among amateur soccer players and to identify eventual risk factors.Methods. - We carried out a cross-sectional study using a simple self-administered questionnaire based on the (UEFA) Injury Study Questionnaire, The (OSICS) system and the F-MARC consensus statement. The study concerned five amateur male soccer teams from the region of Monastir.Results. - Fifty replies were received, giving a response rate of 79%. Half of the players suffered from ankle injuries and 8% presented foot injuries. Among ankle/foot injuries, 68% were acute injuries and 48% were direct injuries. The combinations of injuries that worth attention were acute indirect injuries of the lateral compartment of the ankle as they are the most frequent injuries (14%), and the injuries of ankle posterior compartment as they required the longest absence period (12%). Defenders were the most players suffering from acute indirect injuries. Goalkeepers and midfielders were the most players exposed to acute direct injuries. Only 24% of injured players followed physiotherapy for their injuries. More than half of injured players (56%) reported keeping sequelae. We found that players who suffer from other-body-sites injuries were significantly prone to suffer from ankle/foot injuries (P < 0.05). However, those reporting wearing insoles (12% of all players) were significantly at lower risk to suffer from ankle/foot injuries (P < 0.05). We noticed that players using Turf shoes (4% of all players) were at lower risk to suffer from direct injuries (P < 0.05) and that players who wear ankle/foot supports were significantly at lower risk of facing acute injuries (P < 0.05). After performing multivariate analysis, the occurrence of other-body-sites injuries was the only independent factor that significantly influenced ankle and foot injuries. Our results can lead to pragmatic guidance for the prevention of injuries by tailoring a suitable training or rehabilitation programs, prescription of ankle brace and adapted insoles, according the physical demand and position of the player. The prevention should focus on the whole body, since suffering other-body-sites injuries increases the risk of ankle/foot injuries. (C) 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.