Nicola Manocchio, Concetta Ljoka, Anna D’Amato, Giulia Vita, Laura Giordani, Calogero Foti

 SUMMARY

Background. Soccer is a popular sport with a high prevalence of musculoskeletal inju- ries in young players. This study aimed to investigate injury patterns, re-educational interventions, and recovery times in adolescent male soccer players (Under 15-Under 16) in Tor Vergata University Hospital, Rome, Italy.

Methods. A cross-sectional observational study involving 43 players (24 U15, 19 U16) was conducted. Players completed a questionnaire on training, injuries throughout their careers, and re-educational interventions.

Results. A significant portion of players (71% U15, 47% U16) reported at least one injury. Lower limbs were most affected, with the thigh (U15) and ankle (U16) being the most common sites. U16 injuries primarily occurred during matches (increased competitiveness), while U15 injuries were more frequent in training sessions. Capac- itive-resistive diathermy was the most used re-educational intervention, but motor re-education programs were underutilized. U16 players had longer recovery times (1-2 months) compared to U15 players (2 weeks-1 month).

Conclusions. This study highlights the high prevalence of injuries in young soccer play- ers. Injury context differed by age group, suggesting a need for targeted prevention strategies. The underutilization of motor re-educational programs points to a potential gap in injury management. Future research with a larger sample size and longitudinal design is needed to explore risk factors and preventive measures in more depth.

KEY WORDS
Adolescent soccer players; injury patterns; motor re-education; recovery time; rehabilitation.