Women footballers had higher London 2012 injury rate than men

USA women

By David Owen
June 8 – An in-depth study of injuries across all sports at the London 2012 Olympics has found that women footballers faced a substantially greater risk of getting hurt than their male counterparts. The International Olympic Committee study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, recorded 99 injuries among the 220 women who participated – a rate of 45%.

The equivalent figure for men was just 27%.

Football had by far the highest injury rate for women of any sport, ahead of BMX cycling (31%).

Among men, football’s injury rate was exceeded by both BMX (31%) and taekwondo (52%).

It must be pointed out that the injuries in question were not necessarily very debilitating.

The definition of injury used was a new or recurring musculoskeletal complaint or concussion incurred during competition or training for which medical attention was received.

Two-thirds of the injuries across all sports were estimated not to result in any time loss from sport and only 5% in an absence of more than 28 days.

Football was also said to be responsible for three of the six reported concussions at London 2012; none was classified as severe.

The study, whose authors included FIFA’s Jiri Dvorak, found that 11% of athletes across all sports incurred at least one injury.

The women’s football gold medal was won by the United States, who defeated Japan 2-1 in an absorbing final at Wembley stadium.

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