Abstract
Subsequent and recurrent injuries in football players: A systematic review
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Vol.26, pp.S107-S108
2023 ASICS Sports Medicine Australia (SMA) Conference, P2023SMA-263 (Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia, 11/10/2023–14/10/2023)
2023
Abstract
Introduction:
Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in the world. The physical demands of football exposes players to risk of injury, in particular lower limb muscle and tendon injuries. Subsequent and recurrent injuries (SRI) can be particularly burdensome and warrant closer examination. This systematic review aimed to describe the incidence, severity, risk factors, and distribution of subsequent and recurrent injuries in football.
Methods:
The protocol for this systematic review was pre-registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). Electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, AMED, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and AusportMed were searched from inception to May 2022. To be included studies had to prospectively collect match and/or training data on SRI, and exposure data from football players of any sex, age, or level of play. Included studies had to be published in a peer-reviewed journal and in published in either of the official languages of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) (i.e. English, Spanish, French and German). Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were conducted by two independent reviewers. Data were analysed via narrative synthesis.
Results:
Electronic database searches yielded 23,808 records. After removing duplicate records, 10,831 titles and abstracts were screened. Of the 520 full-text articles assessed, 130 articles were eligible for inclusion and data extraction. Most studies featured male players (94/130, 72%), and adult professional or elite players (84/130, 65%). SRI incidence rates (IIR) were reported or calculated for all studies; Overall IIR for all injuries ranged from 0.005 to 4.42 per 1000 hours football exposure. SRI accounted for approximately 14% of injuries. There is a paucity of data observing SRI severity, type, risk factors and distribution within football. Very few studies used contemporary SRI categorisation systems.
Discussion:
SRIs are inadequately investigated and reported in football and there is a paucity of severity and type data to comprehensively map the epidemiology. This information is required to better understand, prevent and manage SRI in soccer. A prudent step forward is for future prospective injury surveillance systems to incorporate SRI type and categorisation systems into study designs, and to systematically report SRI to inform knowledge gaps in the field.
Impact/Application to the field:
• This review provides a state-of-the-art overview of the epidemiology of subsequent and recurrent injuries in football, which will inform both injury prevention efforts and clinical management.
• This review highlights the general inadequacy of reporting of subsequent and recurrent injuries in football, and the need for future studies to use an appropriate subsequent injury classification system.
Declaration:
My co-authors and I acknowledge that we have no conflict of interest of relevance to the submission of this abstract.
Details
- Title
- Subsequent and recurrent injuries in football players: A systematic review
- Authors/Creators
- A. Pucciarelli - Macquarie University, AustraliaM. Swain - Macquarie University, AustraliaR.P. Lystad - Macquarie University, AustraliaK de Luca - Central Queensland University, AustraliaL. Campagna - Sydney University, AustraliaC. Tomassoni - Murdoch University, Australia
- Publication Details
- Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Vol.26, pp.S107-S108
- Conference
- 2023 ASICS Sports Medicine Australia (SMA) Conference, P2023SMA-263 (Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia, 11/10/2023–14/10/2023)
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Identifiers
- 991005620270007891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Abstract
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