The population burden of amateur football injuries in Australia

This PhD thesis examines the population burden of amateur football injuries in Australia. It uses a three-year retrospective analysis of sports injury insurance data to analyse injury incidence, costs (both direct and indirect), and characteristics, stratified by age and sex. The research also investigates the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on injury rates and explores injury prevention behaviours among various stakeholders (players, coaches, and medical staff) through surveys. Findings highlight the substantial economic burden of injuries, particularly ACL tears and underscores the need for improved injury prevention strategies. Several associated publications are included as chapters within the thesis: Chapter two: ⁠'Benched' the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on injury incidence in sub-elite football in Australia: a retrospective population study using injury insurance records - PubMed⁠ Chapter three: ⁠Direct and indirect costs associated with injury in sub-elite football in Australia: a population study using 3 years of sport insurance records - PubMed⁠ Chapter four: ⁠Insurance cost and injury characteristics of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in sub-elite football: A population analysis involving 3 years of Australian insurance data - PubMed⁠ Chapter five: ⁠Insurance cost and injury characteristics of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in sub-elite football: A population analysis involving 3 years of Australian insurance data - PubMed⁠ Chapter six: ⁠The economics of a national anterior cruciate ligament injury prevention program for amateur football players: a Markov model analysis | The Medical Journal of Australia⁠ Chapter seven: ⁠The FIFA 11 + : Why is adherence so challenging? Insights from a cross-sectional study of stakeholders in Australian amateur football (soccer) - Andrew G. Ross, Marnee J. McKay, Evangelos Pappas, Matthew Whalan, Elia Parsanejad, Kerry Peek, 2024