An investigation into the relationship between foot posture and knee injuries that occur in young female footballers

Abstract

In football, it has been proven that female footballers are more likely to sustain a knee injury than their male counterparts. There can be many risk factors that cause this but the aim of this study was to establish whether foot posture has any relationship with knee injuries suffered by female footballers. 18 female footballers who had agreed to take part in the study completed a health and sport related questionnaire. The subjects were aged between 18 and 23 [mean 20.38 ±1.22]. The 6 measurement foot posture index tool was then used to assess each individual’s foot posture. The left foot was measured first and then the right, the process was repeated three times. After measurement the scores were added and the participants were then classified as highly pronated, pronated, neutral, supinated and highly supinated. Statistical analysis was then carried out. An independent T test was used to determine whether the FPI-6 scores between the injured and non – injured groups were significantly different. The results from this statistically proved that the FPI-6 scores between the two groups were different. The results from the study suggest the female footballers with a pronated foot are at high risk of sustaining knee injuries. However the sample size in this study was very small and needs to be researched on a larger population before any significant result can be assumed.