@article {Fortingtone000112, author = {Lauren V Fortington and Alex Donaldson and Caroline F Finch}, title = {Self-reported worst injuries in women{\textquoteright}s Australian football identify lower limb injuries as a prevention priority}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, elocation-id = {e000112}, year = {2016}, doi = {10.1136/bmjsem-2016-000112}, publisher = {BMJ Specialist Journals}, abstract = {Background Increasing participation by women in Australian football (AF) has made understanding their specific injury prevention needs a priority. In other sports, men and women have different injury profiles. This study aims to provide the first overview of self-reported injuries in women{\textquoteright}s AF.Methods Nationwide survey of women aged 17+ years who played in an AF competition was conducted following the 2014 playing season. The players{\textquoteright} self-reported worst injury from the 2014 season is presented according to injury type, body part injured, treatment sought and games/training missed.Results Three-quarters of 553 respondents (n=431, 78\%) reported at least 1 injury. Over half (n=235, 55\%) of injuries were to the lower limb. Ankle ligament tears/sprains (n=50, 12\% of all injuries) and knee ligament tears/sprains (n=45, 10\%) were most frequent lower limb injuries reported. Two-thirds (65\%) of all lower limb injuries led to at least 1 missed game. Of 111 (26\% of all injuries) upper limb injuries reported, over half (n=57, 62\%) were to the hand/fingers/thumb, including fractures (n=28, 6\% of all injuries), ligament tears/sprains (n=18, 4\%) and dislocations (n=11, 3\%). Half of the upper limb injuries (51\%) resulted in players missing matches/training.Conclusions The most frequent self-reported worst injuries for women playing AF were joint damage to the ankle and knee. A prospective injury study is needed to confirm the causes and rate of these lower limb injuries to identify the most suitable prevention interventions.}, URL = {https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/2/1/e000112}, eprint = {https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/2/1/e000112.full.pdf}, journal = {BMJ Open Sport \& Exercise Medicine} }