ORIGINAL ARTICLE

UEFA Champions League study: a prospective study of injuries in professional football during the 2001–2002 season

M Waldén, M Hägglund, J Ekstrand

Department of Health and Society, Linköping University, Sweden

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Waldén
Department of Health and Society, Linköping University, S-581 83 Linköping, Sweden; markus.walden{at}telia.com

Background: No previous study on adult football involving several different countries has investigated the incidence and pattern of injuries at the highest club competitive level.

Objective: To investigate the risk exposure, risk of injury, and injury pattern of footballers involved in UEFA Champions League and international matches during a full football season.

Method: Eleven top clubs (266 players) in five European countries were followed prospectively throughout the season of 2001–2002. Time-lost injuries and individual exposure times were recorded during all club and national team training sessions and matches.

Results: A total of 658 injuries were recorded. The mean (SD) injury incidence was 9.4 (3.2) injuries per 1000 hours (30.5 (11.0) injuries per 1000 match hours and 5.8 (2.1) injuries per 1000 training hours). The risk of match injury was significantly higher in the English and Dutch teams than in the teams from France, Italy, and Spain (41.8 (3.3) v 24.0 (7.9) injuries per 1000 hours; p = 0.008). Major injuries (absence >4 weeks) constituted 15% of all injuries, and the risk of major injury was also significantly higher among the English and Dutch teams (p = 0.04). National team players had a higher match exposure, with a tendency towards a lower training injury incidence than the rest of the players (p = 0.051). Thigh strain was the most common injury (16%), with posterior strains being significantly more common than anterior ones (67 v 36; p<0.0001).

Conclusions: The risk of injury in European professional football is high. The most common injury is the thigh strain typically involving the hamstrings. The results suggest that regional differences may influence injury epidemiology and traumatology, but the factors involved are unclear. National team players have a higher match exposure, but no higher risk of injury than other top level players.

Keywords: elite; epidemiology; injury incidence; professional; football; soccer

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Balius, R, Maestro, A, Pedret, C, Estruch, A, Mota, J, Rodriguez, L, Garcia, P, Mauri, E (2009). Central aponeurosis tears of the rectus femoris: practical sonographic prognosis. Br. J. Sports. Med. 43: 818-824 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hagglund, M, Walden, M, Ekstrand, J (2009). UEFA injury study--an injury audit of European Championships 2006 to 2008. Br. J. Sports. Med. 43: 483-489 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Froholdt, A., Olsen, O. E., Bahr, R. (2009). Low Risk of Injuries Among Children Playing Organized Soccer: A Prospective Cohort Study. Am J Sports Med 37: 1155-1160 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Azubuike, S O, Okojie, O H (2009). An epidemiological study of football (soccer) injuries in Benin City, Nigeria. Br. J. Sports. Med. 43: 382-386 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Bradshaw, C J, Bundy, M, Falvey, E (2008). The diagnosis of longstanding groin pain: a prospective clinical cohort study. Br. J. Sports. Med. 42: 851-854 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Yard, E. E., Schroeder, M. J., Fields, S. K., Collins, C. L., Comstock, R. D. (2008). The Epidemiology of United States High School Soccer Injuries, 2005-2007. Am J Sports Med 36: 1930-1937 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Engebretsen, A. H., Myklebust, G., Holme, I., Engebretsen, L., Bahr, R. (2008). Prevention of Injuries Among Male Soccer Players: A Prospective, Randomized Intervention Study Targeting Players With Previous Injuries or Reduced Function. Am J Sports Med 36: 1052-1060 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hagglund, M., Walden, M., Ekstrand, J. (2007). Lower Reinjury Rate With a Coach-Controlled Rehabilitation Program in Amateur Male Soccer: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Sports Med 35: 1433-1442 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Junge, A., Dvorak, J. (2007). Injuries in female football players in top-level international tournaments. Br. J. Sports. Med. 41: i3-i7 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Dallalana, R. J., Brooks, J. H. M., Kemp, S. P. T., Williams, A. M. (2007). The Epidemiology of Knee Injuries in English Professional Rugby Union. Am J Sports Med 35: 818-830 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Leininger, R. E., Knox, C. L., Comstock, R. D. (2007). Epidemiology of 1.6 Million Pediatric Soccer-Related Injuries Presenting to US Emergency Departments From 1990 to 2003. Am J Sports Med 35: 288-293 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ekstrand, J, Timpka, T, Hagglund, M, Karlsson, J (2006). Risk of injury in elite football played on artificial turf versus natural grass: a prospective two-cohort study * Commentary. Br. J. Sports. Med. 40: 975-980 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hagglund, M, Walden, M, Ekstrand, J (2006). Previous injury as a risk factor for injury in elite football: a prospective study over two consecutive seasons. Br. J. Sports. Med. 40: 767-772 [Abstract] [Full Text]