@article{ref1,
title="Self-reported worst injuries in women's Australian football identify lower limb injuries as a prevention priority",
journal="BMJ open sport and exercise medicine",
year="2016",
author="Fortington, Lauren V. and Donaldson, Alex and Finch, Caroline F.",
volume="2",
number="1",
pages="e000112-e000112",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Increasing participation by women in Australian football (AF) has made understanding their specific injury prevention needs a priority. In other sports, men and women have different injury profiles. This study aims to provide the first overview of self-reported injuries in women's AF. <br><br>METHODS: Nationwide survey of women aged 17+ years who played in an AF competition was conducted following the 2014 playing season. The players' self-reported worst injury from the 2014 season is presented according to injury type, body part injured, treatment sought and games/training missed. <br><br>RESULTS: Three-quarters of 553 respondents (n=431, 78%) reported at least 1 injury. Over half (n=235, 55%) of injuries were to the lower limb. Ankle ligament tears/sprains (n=50, 12% of all injuries) and knee ligament tears/sprains (n=45, 10%) were most frequent lower limb injuries reported. Two-thirds (65%) of all lower limb injuries led to at least 1 missed game. Of 111 (26% of all injuries) upper limb injuries reported, over half (n=57, 62%) were to the hand/fingers/thumb, including fractures (n=28, 6% of all injuries), ligament tears/sprains (n=18, 4%) and dislocations (n=11, 3%). Half of the upper limb injuries (51%) resulted in players missing matches/training. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent self-reported worst injuries for women playing AF were joint damage to the ankle and knee. A prospective injury study is needed to confirm the causes and rate of these lower limb injuries to identify the most suitable prevention interventions.  Keywords: Australian rules football <p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2055-7647",
doi="10.1136/bmjsem-2016-000112",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2016-000112"
}