Sport Specialization and Lower Extremity Injury Incidence: A Retrospective Pilot Study among Female Collegiate Soccer Players

OBJECTIVES To assess the relationship between single sport specialization and lower extremity injury inci-dence among female collegiate soccer players. METHODS Five participants (5 females; age 19.6 ± 0.9 years) were recruited from a Division I college soccer team. No other inclusion criteria were included. Injury incidence was recorded on a dichotomous scale. Presence of a lower extremity injury that resulted in greater than 2 days of missed practice indicated a ‘yes’ for injury incidence. Zero reported injuries and injuries resulting in less than 2 days of missed practice indicated a ‘no’ for injury incidence. Sport specialization level was categorized on self-report questionnaire results. Participants were categorized as highly, moderately, lowly, or non-sport specialized. RESULTS Each participant was highly sport specialized (100%) and age of specialization ranged from 3 to 16 years old. Of the group total, three participants sustained a previous LEI that resulted in time-loss. An average of four days were lost due to injury. CONCLUSIONS A sample of five, highly sport specialized, female soccer players lost an average of four days due to lower extremity injury.