Prevalence of femoroacetabular impingement and effect of training frequency on aetiology in paediatric football players.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic radiographic findings of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in paediatric football players in different age groups and to investigate aetiological factors.

METHODS: Paediatric male athletes between 10 and 17 years of age from 8 soccer teams were recruited. In addition to an annual control check-up, anteroposterior pelvis and frog-leg radiographs as well as the curriculum vitae of the athletes, their injuries, and real-time complaints were recorded. The alpha angle, lateral centre-edge angle, Tönnis angle, and collodiaphyseal angle were measured and morphological abnormalities were noted.

RESULTS: There were 214 male football players with a mean age of 13.4 ± 3.2 years included in the study. In the morphological analysis of hips, there was FAI in 30% of the athletes. In the analysis of FAI prevalence in 3 subgroups based on age (Group 1: 10-12 years [ n = 25], Group 2: 13-15 years [ n = 104], Group 3: 16-17 years [ n = 85]), there was 0% FAI in Group 1, 19.1% in Group 2 and 60% in Group 3. In the analysis of aetiological factors, there was no significant difference between the right and left hips of players regarding alpha angles and FAI prevalence. However, the prevalence of FAI was higher in players who had been playing football for 3 years or more and who had been training for 12.5 hours/week or more.

CONCLUSION: Training for 12.5 hours or more per week in paediatric football players doubled the risk development of FAI morphology.