Characteristics of goalkeeping injuries: a retrospective, self-reported study in adolescent soccer players.

Background: Characteristic types of actions and training/matches loads of soccer goalkeepers show that goalkeeper's performance differs from other soccer's formations. Such situation may predispose to the occurrence of other kinds of injuries in this position. The aim of this study was to analyze epidemiology of injuries in young soccer goalkeepers.

Methods: Forty-eight soccer goalkeepers (aged:15.2±1.9 years) filled the questionnaire aimed at collecting information about all injuries sustained within 12 months before the data collection. The anthropometric data, soccer experience and information regarding the injury types and occurrence were analyzed. The injury rate proportion for acute and overuse injuries and values of injuries including the burden of the match game and training were evaluated. The level of significance was set at P<0.05.

Results: Thirty-three (68.8%) questionnaires were given back. Twenty-four (72.7%) goalkeepers reported the history of soccer related injury within a year before the survey. 52 injuries were reported. Significantly higher number of acute (76.9%) vs. overuse (23.1%) injuries was described (P=0.0012). Acute injuries involved fractures/subluxations of the fingers and thigh muscle strain/tears. The group of overuse injuries was dominated by trauma of the knee and pelvic girdle muscles. Majority of injuries occurred during training (88.5% of all injuries), and there was significant higher number of injuries sustained on artificial vs. natural grass for all, acute and overuse types of injuries (P<0.0001).

Conclusions: Young soccer goalkeepers suffer mostly acute injuries (within the fingers of hands and muscles of thighs). It might be associated with specific characteristic of performance related to goalkeeper's position.