Injury Patterns in an Elite Men’s Futsal Club: A Nine-Season Cohort
                    Study

Carles Miñarro; Bernat de Pablo Marquez; Lore Zumeta-Olaskoaga; Dai Sugimoto; Gil Rodas; Marti Casals

doi:10.1055/a-2764-2503

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med
DOI: 10.1055/a-2764-2503

Orthopedics & Biomechanics

Injury Patterns in an Elite Men’s Futsal Club: A Nine-Season Cohort Study

Authors

Carles Miñarro

¹Medical Department, Futbol Club Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain (Ringgold ID: RIN523641)
Bernat de Pablo Marquez

²Medical Services, FC Barcelona Medical Services, Barcelona, Spain (Ringgold ID: RIN88056)

³Sport, Exercise, and Human Movement Research Group, Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya, Vic, Spain (Ringgold ID: RIN16783)
Lore Zumeta-Olaskoaga

⁴Health Research Institute, Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, San Sebastián, Spain (Ringgold ID: RIN510659)

⁵Department of Physiotherapy, Deusto Physical TherapIker, Donostia, Spain
Dai Sugimoto

⁶Sports Medicine, The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, United States

⁷Division of Sports Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, United States (Ringgold ID: RIN1862)
Gil Rodas

⁸Medical Services F.C. Barcelona, Futbol Club Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain (Ringgold ID: RIN523641)

⁹Sports medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain (Ringgold ID: RIN16724)
Marti Casals

³Sport, Exercise, and Human Movement Research Group, Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya, Vic, Spain (Ringgold ID: RIN16783)

¹⁰National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia (INEFC), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain (Ringgold ID: RIN16724)

Abstract

Futsal is a high-intensity sport with a significant risk of injury; however, current literature lacks consensus on the most prevalent injury patterns in this discipline. This study aims to describe the types and frequencies of injuries sustained by elite futsal players. We conducted an observational, retrospective analysis of injuries recorded over nine consecutive seasons within a single club, encompassing six different competitive categories. A total of 214 male athletes were monitored, representing 671 player-seasons, during which 1,043 injuries were documented. Muscle–tendon injuries of the thigh were the most frequently reported, followed by ligament injuries of the knee and ankle. Among muscle–tendon injuries, biceps femoris was the most injured muscle, while anterior cruciate ligament ruptures were the injuries associated with a higher time-loss. These findings highlight the specific anatomical regions most vulnerable to injury in elite futsal and underscore the need for targeted prevention strategies. By providing a detailed injury profile across multiple competitive levels, this study provides a starting point for the development of evidence-based injury prevention and rehabilitation programs.

Keywords

Futsal - injury - epidemiology - surveillance - injury prevention

Full Text

References

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