Date of Award

5-2025

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

First Advisor

Dominique Ross

Keywords

Athletic Training, Student Scholarship, Injury Trends, Collegiate Football

Abstract

Injury surveillance in collegiate football provides critical insight for the identification of trends, risk factors, and prevention strategies. While national databases have offered foundational knowledge, program-specific analysis remains essential for targeted clinical care. A retrospective analysis was conducted on injuries sustained during the 2024 season by a NCAA Division I collegiate football team, with emphasis on injury type, affected body part, and athlete position. Data was collected from internal injury reports spanning from August through November of 2024, including all orthopedic injuries and general medical concerns evaluated by the sports medicine team during official team activities. A total of 293 injuries were documented. Wide receivers experienced the highest number of injuries (22.5%), followed by defensive backs and linemen. The ankle was the most frequently injured body part, accounting for 15.4% of all injuries, with lateral ankle sprains as the most common diagnosis. Shoulder injuries were the second most frequent, with labrum tears primarily affecting defensive players. Knee injuries ranked third, with patellar tendinopathy occurring more than ligamentous injuries, particularly among linemen. Findings aligned with literature identifying the ankle, shoulder, and knee as high-risk regions in football but deviated in specific injury types and positional distribution. An unexpectedly high injury rate among wide receivers was observed, highlighting a potential gap in current epidemiological research. Differences in injury trends may reflect variations across programs. Results reflect the importance of continuous, program-level surveillance to identify injury patterns and create targeted prevention strategies. Position-specific trends identified through localized data can aid athletic trainers in developing proactive clinical interventions, optimizing rehabilitation protocols, and collaborating with strength and conditioning staff. Expanded research across multiple seasons and institutions, with playing surface being an important factor is warranted to improve broad findings and enhance clinical decision making in collegiate football.

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