One-year prevalence and factors associated with injury in Japanese collegiate American footballers

Background/objectives Participation in American football, a physically demanding and high-impact sport, presents a unique set of challenges and potential health risks to its participants. Understanding the prevalence, characteristics and factors related to injuries is essential not only for the athletic performance but also to improve the safety of the athletes in this sport. Methods This cross-sectional observational study used a web-based survey to collect data on 1-year prevalence of injuries and illness in Japanese collegiate American football athletes. Results The one-year injury prevalence was found at 62%. The 86% of the injured athletes required time off training or competition and 67% indicated at least moderate severity of their injury. Factors associated with higher odds of sustaining an injury were: higher year at university, higher experience in the sport, BMI classified as overweight, five or more practice days per week, national level of play, illness, and support by an athletic trainer. Conclusion We recommend that long-term athlete development and ongoing training load and recovery management, especially in more advanced athletes, to be improved to reduce the prevalence of injuries in this population.