Injury patterns in women's intramural flag football.

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Flag football is a growing sport among women.
• Understanding injury patterns is crucial for prevention.
• Existing data often focuses on male athletes or different sport levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively analyze injury patterns in women's flag football.
• To identify common injury locations and causes.
• To compare injury data with existing literature on male athletes and different competition levels.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study conducted over 4 years at Mississippi State University.
• Data collected on 114 injuries sustained during intramural flag football.
• Injury data analyzed for body part, injury type, and cause.

Main Results:

• The finger (39%), knee (16%), and ankle (8%) were the most common injury sites.
• Sprains, fractures, contusions, and strains were equally distributed injury types.
• Collisions accounted for 64% of injuries, with offensive players most affected.

Conclusions:

• Women's flag football injuries differ significantly from those in men.
• Injury patterns in recreational women's flag football are distinct from varsity data.
• Targeted injury prevention strategies are needed for female flag football players.