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. 2024 Oct;52(12):2972-2979.
doi: 10.1177/03635465241278745. Epub 2024 Sep 25.

Intrinsic Risk Factors for Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Young Female Soccer Players: A Prospective Cohort Study

Shuji Taketomi  1   2 , Kohei Kawaguchi  3   4   2 , Yuri Mizutani  5   2 , Seira Takei  5   2 , Ryota Yamagami  1   2 , Kenichi Kono  1   2 , Ryo Murakami  1   2 , Takahiro Arakawa  1   2 , Tomofumi Kage  1   2 , Takashi Kobayashi  1   2 , Yuri Furukawa  1   2 , Yusuke Arino  6   2 , Sayaka Fujiwara  7   2 , Sakae Tanaka  1   2 , Toru Ogata  7   2
Affiliations

Intrinsic Risk Factors for Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Young Female Soccer Players: A Prospective Cohort Study

Shuji Taketomi et al. Am J Sports Med. 2024 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have attempted to determine prognostic factors for predicting the occurrence of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. However, studies on risk factors for noncontact ACL injuries in Asian female soccer players are limited.

Purpose: To identify intrinsic risk factors for noncontact ACL injuries among young female Asian soccer players.

Study design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods: This study evaluated 145 female Japanese soccer players for potential risk factors for noncontact ACL injury during the preseason medical assessment. In total, 25 variables were examined-including anthropometric data, joint range of motion, muscle flexibility, muscle strength, and balance measurements. Participants were monitored throughout a single season for noncontact ACL injuries diagnosed by physicians.

Results: Noncontact ACL injuries occurred in 13 knees of 13 players (9%). Lower hamstring-to-quadriceps ratio (0.44 ± 0.07 vs 0.50 ± 0.10; P = .04), greater knee extension muscle strength (3.2 ± 0.5 vs 2.7 ± 0.5 N·m/kg; P < .01), and longer playing experience (10.8 ± 3 vs 8.1 ± 4.2 years; P = .02) were significantly associated with new-onset noncontact ACL injuries in young female soccer players. No statistically significant between-group differences were found for any other variables.

Conclusion: New-onset noncontact ACL injury in young female soccer players was significantly associated with lower hamstring-to-quadriceps ratio, greater knee extension muscle strength, and longer soccer experience. These findings will help develop strategies for preventing noncontact ACL injuries among female soccer players.

Keywords: female soccer player; hamstrings-to-quadriceps muscle strength ratio; injury prevention; noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury; risk factor.

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Conflict of interest statement

One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: This study was funded by scholarship donations from the East Japan Railway Company and Shimamura-Syoukai and grants from the Nakatomi Foundation, Japan Sports Medicine Foundation, Japan Sport Council, Japanese Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, Watanabe Memorial Foundation for the Advancement of New Technology, Japan Keirin Autorace Foundation, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (KAKENHI 20K11358), Japan Orthopaedics Traumatology Foundation, and Japanese Orthopaedic Society of Knee, Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto.

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