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Analysis of Football Injuries by Position Group in Division I College Football: A 5-Year Program Review
Michael K Krill1,2, James R Borchers3,4, Joshua T Hoffman1
1Motion Analysis and Performance Laboratory, Jameson Crane Sports Medicine Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.
Summary
Skill players in collegiate football experience higher injury rates, particularly in the preseason and from noncontact mechanisms. Targeted interventions during the preseason could significantly reduce overall football injuries.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Injury Epidemiology
- Athletic Performance Analysis
Background:
- Collegiate football involves high physical demands and a significant risk of player injuries.
- Understanding injury patterns across different player positions is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze and compare injury characteristics among various player position groups in collegiate football.
- To identify specific injury trends related to timing, body part, mechanism, and exposure type within different position groups.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, observational study was conducted over five fall regular seasons (2012-2016) at a major Division I collegiate football program.
- Injury data, including rates (IRs) per 1000 athlete exposures (AEs) and injury rate ratios (IRRs), were collected and analyzed for all players.
- Variables analyzed included time in season, body part, injury type, game vs. practice, mechanism of injury, and type of exposure.
Main Results:
- A total of 200 injuries were reported across 48,615 AEs, with an overall 5-year IR of 4.11 per 1000 AEs.
- Skill players exhibited the highest injury rates in the preseason (IR, 7.56) and significantly higher IRRs compared to line and other position groups.
- Skill players sustained more preseason injuries, noncontact mechanism injuries, and upper leg/thigh injuries compared to other groups.
Conclusions:
- Skill players are at a higher risk for injuries during the preseason and from noncontact mechanisms, particularly affecting the upper leg and thigh.
- Interventions targeting soft-tissue muscle strains in skill players during the preseason offer a key opportunity to reduce overall football injury rates.
- Reducing contact exposures may be most effective for mitigating concussions and contact-related injuries in other position groups.
