Ankle Injuries and Their Impact on the Physical Level of Youth Football Players

Abstract

Ankle joint injuries are among the most common injuries among football players, due to their fundamental role in stability, movement, and force transmission during skilful performance. Hence, the importance of studying ankle injuries and their impact on the physical level of football players arises, aiming to highlight the magnitude of this problem, identify its physical effects, and contribute to establishing scientific foundations for prevention, rehabilitation, and safe return to play. The research problem lies in the observed significant decline in the physical level of players injured with ankle injuries, which may persist even after returning to training and competition. The research hypothesises that there are statistically significant differences in the physical level between players injured and not injured with ankle injuries, that ankle injuries negatively affect the physical fitness elements of youth football players, and that the degree of physical impact varies according to the type and severity of the ankle injury. The researcher used the descriptive method with a survey and comparative approach to suit the nature of the research problem. The research community consisted of players from the clubs of Babil Governorate participating in the Iraqi Third Division Youth Football League for the 2024/2025 season. These clubs are (Babil, Al-Hashimiya, Al-Hilla, Al-Mahawil, Al-Nil). The research sample was deliberately selected and consisted of players injured in the ankle joint from these clubs. The researcher conducted a pilot experiment on non-injured players from the Babil Governorate clubs participating in the Iraqi Third Division Youth Football League for the 2024/2025 season, totalling 50 players (the control group), and calculated the validity and reliability coefficients. After confirming the suitability of the physical fitness tests by finding the scientific coefficients and the appropriateness of the tests for the research sample, the researcher, with the assistance of the support team, conducted the main study. The researcher observed all procedures taken during the final implementation of the tests, in terms of the sequence of procedures and the standardisation of the specific conditions for the tests. The researcher concluded that ankle injuries are common among football players due to the high stresses the joint undergoes during motor performance, such as rapid running, changing direction, and collisions with opponents. Ankle injuries have a clearly negative impact on the physical level of football players, as the results showed statistically significant differences between injured and non-injured players in all the physical tests under investigation. The researcher recommends the necessity of implementing preventive training programs specifically for the ankle joint, including exercises to strengthen the ligaments and surrounding muscles, and focusing on incorporating balance and neuromuscular coordination exercises within the training units of football players to reduce the likelihood of injury.