Characterization of Injuries in Male and Female Ultimate Frisbee Players at the Elite Club-Level

BACKGROUND: Ultimate Frisbee is a rapidly growing sport played in all levels of competition in men’s, women’s, and coed divisions. Despite widespread popularity, there remains a lack of research on injury risk and prevalence during a season. PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of injuries among elite club-level men and women Ultimate Frisbee players and to identify elements associated with injury during a single season. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiological study. METHODS: Voluntary preseason and postseason online surveys were distributed to local elite club-level Ultimate teams in 2019. Surveys assessed players’ lifetime Ultimate-associated injury history, injury status, training regimen, and other related elements. RESULTS: Fifty-seven and 84 players were eligible to complete the preseason and postseason surveys, respectively. Prior to the 2019 season, 97% of female respondents and 100% of male respondents reported a previous Ultimate-related injury in their career, with all reporting a prior lower extremity injury. During the 2019 season, 56% of respondents reported being injured, and 12% missed one month or more of the season, with 88% of injured players reporting a lower extremity injury. Men reported more ankle and calf injuries than women, and there was a strong negative correlation between time missed due to injury during the 2018 season and the number of days per week spent weight-training and accumulated training. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of lower extremity injury among elite club-level Ultimate players during a single season and pervasive lower extremity injury history may contribute to high injury prevalence. Observed injury patterns suggest targeted interventions including Nordic Hamstring Exercises and balance and proprioceptive training may decrease injury risk. Further research into this topic is needed to help reduce injury in these athletes. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level 3.