De Wet, K.B.Ellapen, T.J.Paul, Y.Mahlangu, M.P.2024-10-312024-10-312024-01-011015-5163 (P)2078-516X (E)https://doi.org/10.17159/2078-516X/2024/v36i1a17653https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14519/970Background: The ever-evolving game of soccer is a complex physical contact team sport, exposing its participants to injury. Objectives: To identify the point prevalence of soccer injuries among young amateur, semi-professional, and professional South African male soccer players. Methods: The participation of male amateur (n=54), semi-professional (n=34), and professional (n=57) players provided a cross-sectional overview of the nature of the most predominant types and anatomical sites of injuries affecting soccer players (average age 23.9±4.7 years). All participants completed the Fuller soccer injury questionnaire, ISAK somatotype profiling and knee flexion/extension isokinetic concentric peak torque (Nm) evaluations at 60°/s. Results: Fifty per cent of the players sustained soccer injuries (X2=0.9). Knee (20%) and ankle (19%) were the most vulnerable sites (X2=0.00001). Knee-injured players’ right quadriceps torque (199±37 vs 223±38 Nm) and percentage right quadriceps torque relative to body mass (286±54 vs 311±39%) was significantly weaker than the non-injured players (p<0.01). The injured players’ right hamstrings/quadriceps (H/Q) torque ratio further significantly differed from the non-injured players’ H/Q torque ratios (79±17 vs 70±9%) (p<0.01). Conclusion: Male soccer players experience neuro-musculoskeletal injuries, with their knees and ankles being the most vulnerable. Knee-injured players had weaker quadriceps isokinetic strength than non-injured players.1-4 PagesenAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/KneeIsokineticTraining historyBody compositionArticle