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Updated: Jul 5, 2025

An Inertial Measurement Unit Based Method to Estimate Hip and Knee Joint Kinematics in Team Sport Athletes on the Field
Published on: May 26, 2020
Apophyseal injuries in soccer players
Vitor Neves Sato1,2,3, Tatiane Lumi Moriwaki1,3, Marcos Hiroyuki Ikawa1,2,3
1Department of Radiology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Napoleão de Barros, 800 - Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04024-002, Brazil.
Youth soccer players are prone to lower extremity injuries, especially at the hip and pelvis. This review covers apophyseal anatomy, injuries, and treatment in young athletes.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Sports Medicine
- Pediatric Sports Medicine
Background:
- Soccer's global popularity correlates with high lower extremity injury rates.
- Youth athletes with immature skeletons are particularly vulnerable to physeal plate injuries.
- Apophyses, crucial tendon attachment sites on epiphyses, are susceptible to traction forces.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the anatomy of lower limb apophyses in youth soccer players.
- To discuss clinical and imaging findings of apophyseal injuries.
- To outline treatment options and potential complications.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on apophyseal anatomy and injuries in youth soccer.
- Analysis of clinical presentations and diagnostic imaging modalities.
- Synthesis of current treatment strategies and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Apophyseal injuries, including avulsion and apophysitis, are common in youth soccer players.
- The hip and pelvis apophyses are most frequently affected due to repetitive stress and later fusion.
- Understanding anatomy is key to diagnosing and managing these traction-related injuries.
Conclusions:
- Apophyseal injuries represent a significant concern in youth soccer, impacting the hip and pelvis.
- Early diagnosis through clinical and imaging assessment is crucial for effective management.
- Comprehensive treatment and understanding of complications are vital for athlete recovery.
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