SPORT INJURIES AND LEVEL OF ANXIETY IN SOCCER PLAYERS

BACKGROUND: TO study the relationship between psychological factors su ch as the anxiety trait and the possibility of suffering a sports inju ry in soccer players. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: In this study we analysed a sample of 149 males soccer players using a classic statistical analys is of case-control design studies, the relationship between the <<spor ts injury>> effect and the theoretical risk indicator of <<the anxiety trait>> measured using the Sixteen Personality Factors (16PF). RESULT S: It was found that there is indeed a relationship (odds ratio [OR] = 3.4; CI 95%: 1.03-11.4) between high levels in the anxiety trait and a proneness to suffering injuries, however, apart from confirming this idea which has been put forward by several authors, our results sugge sted that a very high or very low anxiety trait score favours the poss ibility of suffering an injury (OR=3.2; CI 95%: 1.4-7.5). CONCLUSIONS: In soccer players to minimize the risk of sports injuries an optimum anxiety trait score is important as extreme scores, whether these are high or low, are associated with a greater risk of suffering injuries. Thus, if this individual characteristic is known, then it is possible to identify those persons who are predisposed to suffering sport inju ries.