Background: Physiotherapists are part of the medical team involved in prevention and management of football injuries in Malawi. However, in Malawi no physiotherapist is currently involved in prevention and management of football injuries in the Malawi Super League. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the need for physiotherapy intervention in prevention and management of football injuries. Methodology: A concurrent mixed method study design was used to collect data. A self administered questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from football players. Qualitative data was collected through in-depth interviews from team doctors and coaches respectively. Quantitative data was analysed using the SPSS version 20.0. Descriptive data was presented in the form of percentages, means, ranges, standard deviations, and frequencies using tables, figures and graphs. A chi-square test of association and Fischer’s exact test were used to study the factors associated with football injuries against prevalence of injury. Audiotaped interviews were transcribed verbatim and expressed ideas were read several times, coded and reduced into categories and themes. Ethical clearance was granted by the University of the Western Cape and relevant authorities in Malawi. Results: A response rate of 67.5% was obtained. The mean age of football players was 21.73 (SD=3.295) years. The injury prevalence was 68.9% with 64% of injuries occurring during matches and 37% during training. The majority (84%) of the injuries were sustained in the lower limbs and 52.7% of the players who reported to have incurred an injury had recurring injuries with the ankle joint (33.3%) being the most affected part. Ligament sprain was the most common type of injury (36%) and most of the injuries (36.5%) reported were severe. No medical professional is available to manage injuries during training while team doctors are always available during matches. Recurrent injury was significantly associated injury prevalence (P=0.000). Use of protective gear was also significantly associated with injury prevalence both at training (P<0.01) and matches(P<0.05). Both coaches and team doctors reported that recurrent injury, psychological, player fitness, and lack of equipment were factors contributing to injury prevalence. Regarding injury management, coaches and team doctors reported sprains and strains as the most common injuries seen in the league. Furthermore, their views regarding injury prevention were sought. Team doctors perceived use of protective equipment as the main strategy of injury prevention while coaches regarded warm up as the main injury preventative strategy. Conclusion: There is need for physiotherapy intervention in prevention and management of football injuries in Malawi. / Magister Scientiae (Physiotherapy) - MSc(Physio)

<p><font face="Arial"> <p align="left">Literature has described soccer as the most popular sporting code in the world. South Africa heralds a registry of 1.8 million players. The purpose of the study was to conduct a detailed analysis of soccer injuries sustained in South African professional soccer team over one competitive season. The study utilized a questionnaire to collect quantitative data assessing age of players injures, playing position, site of injury, mechanism of injury, injury management, physiotherapy access and prevention measures which was administered by a physiotherapist at competitive matches. The study defined injury as any injury sustained during competitive matches where a player received medical attention. The study sample consisted of 26 male soccer players ranging from 17-39 years with a mean age of 23.77 years (SD=5.233). Injury prevalence was reported as 58% with a significance (p&lt / 0.05) in the ages of players injured compared to the non-injured. The majority of injuries were sustained by the 20-24 year old players coupled with midfielders being the most predominant position encountering injury (40%). The lower limbs were the most affected (67.1%) with the knee being reported as the most affected joint (21.4%). Defenders and midfielders were significantly more likely to sustain a lower limb injury compared to goalkeepers and forwards who were seen to incur more trunk injuries. The majority of injuries were the result of being tackled (27.2%). A significance was reported with mechanism of injury and playing position (Fisher&rsquo / s Exact=41.118, p&lt / 0.05). Injurymanagement was predominantly self treatment followed by physiotherapy treatment (30%). The main contributor to the decrease in physiotherapy treatment received by players the absence of the service at the club (65.7%) and financial reasons (54.3%). The results of the study confirm that many SouthAfrican professional soccer players are prey to sustaining injury during one competitive soccer season. The study highlighted the need to start prevention efforts at club level in order to curtail the high injury prevalence at professional <font face="Arial">levels.</font></p> </font></p>

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