Soccer is an increasingly popular sport in the U.S., both professionally and recreationally, with over 3 million registered soccer players under 19 years of age playing in leagues every year. A new study conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that with the increase in the number of players there has been a rise in the number and rate of injuries. The study found that from 1990 through 2014, the number of soccer-related injuries treated in hospital emergency departments in the U.S. each year increased by 78 percent, and the yearly rate of injuries increased by 111 percent among youth 7-17 years of age. By calculating the rate using participation data, researchers were able to show that the rising number of injuries comes not just from the increase in the number of young players participating in the sport but also because young players are now being treated more frequently for injuries. To read more, click here.
