Characteristics of retired female elite athletes by study population
| Sample (n=111) | Football (n=66) | Non-contact sport (n=45) |
| Age, mean (SD) | 37.4 (4.8) | 35.8 (5.4) |
| Nationality German, n (%) | 51 (77.3) | 29 (64.6) |
| Handedness right, n (%) | 61 (92.4) | 39 (86.7) |
| Education in years, mean (SD) | 17.3 (2.7) | 18.3 (1.9) |
| No regular physical activity, n (%) | 12 (18.2) | 8 (17.8) |
| Bodily pain on SF-36, mean (SD)a | 77.9 (23.1) | 83.8 (19.8) |
| Retired since in years, mean (SD) | 8.6 (4.4) | 9.8 (4.7) |
| Career length in years, mean (SD) | 11.0 (4.8) | 11.9 (5.6) |
| Training sessions per week, mean (SD) | 5.0 (1.4) | 8.5 (3.8) |
| Matches/competitions per year n (%) | ||
| ≥45 | 10 (15.2) | 3 (6.7) |
| 25–44 | 28 (42.2) | 16 (35.6) |
| ≤24 | 28 (42.2) | 26 (57.8) |
| Concussion, mean (SD) | 1.05 (1.82) | 0.04 (0.03) |
| Other head injury, mean (SD) | 0.62 (0.11) | 0.13 (0.05) |
| Heading, n (%) | ||
| Frequent | 24 (36.4) | n/a |
| Moderate | 31 (47.0) | |
| Rare | 11 (16.7) | |
| Playing position, n (%) | ||
| Defender | 22 (33.3) | n/a |
| Midfielder | 26 (39.4) | |
| Attacker | 11 (16.7) | |
| Goalkeeper | 7 (10.6) |
*Higher scores=less bodily pain.
SF-36, SF-36v2 Health Survey.