Table 3 Nature of training versus match injuries at European Championships 2006–8
All injuriesTraining injuriesMatch injuriesp Value
No. of injuries22445179
Injury severity
    Slight injuries13/224 (6%)4/45 (9%)9/179 (5%)0.53
    Minimal injuries113/224 (50%)21/45 (47%)92/179 (51%)0.69
    Mild injuries23/224 (10%)6/45 (13%)17/179 (9%)0.63
    Moderate injuries41/224 (18%)8/45 (18%)33/179 (18%)0.91
    Severe injuries34/224 (15%)6/45 (13%)28/179 (16%)0.88
Injury type
    Fracture8/224 (4%)2/45 (4%)6/179 (3%)0.92
    Bone stress1/224 (<1%)1/45 (2%)00.45
    Dislocation/subluxation5/224 (2%)1/45 (2%)4/179 (2%)0.58
    Ligament sprain55/224 (25%)9/45 (20%)46/179 (26%)0.55
    Meniscus/cartilage3/224 (1%)2/45 (4%)1/179 (<1%)0.19
    Muscle strain/rupture60/224 (27%)17/45 (38%)43/179 (24%)0.094
    Tendon strain/tendinopathy15/224 (7%)8/45 (18%)7/179 (4%)0.003
    Haematoma/contusion58/224 (26%)2/45 (4%)56/179 (31%)0.001
    Laceration4/224 (2%)04/179 (2%)0.70
    Concussion7/224 (3%)07/179 (4%)0.38
    Other type8/224 (4%)3/45 (7%)5/179 (3%)0.42
Injury location
    Head/neck15/224 (7%)1//45 (2%)14/179 (8%)0.31
    Upper extremity13/224 (6%)2/45 (4%)11/179 (6%)0.94
    Low back/pelvis/trunk10/224 (5%)010/179 (6%)0.22
    Hip/groin28/224 (13%)9/45 (20%)19/179 (11%)0.15
    Thigh48/224 (21%)13/45 (29%)35/179 (20%)0.25
    Knee35/224 (16%)7/45 (16%)28/179 (16%)0.83
    Lower leg24/224 (11%)6/45 (13%)18/179 (10%)0.71
    Ankle43/224 (19%)7/45 (16%)36/179 (20%)0.63
    Foot8/224 (4%)08/179 (5%)0.32
Re-injury20/224 (9%)9/45 (20%)11/179 (6%)0.009
Traumatic injuries170/224 (76%)21/45 (47%)149/179 (83%)<0.001
Overuse injuries*54/224 (24%)24/45 (53%)30/179 (17%)<0.001
Traumatic injury circumstance
    Player contact121/170 (71%)10/21 (48%)112/149 (75%)0.018
    Object contact4/170 (2%)2/21 (10%)2/149 (1%)0.12
    Non-contact45/170 (26%)9/21 (43%)35/149 (23%)0.10
  • *Overuse injuries were categorised as being a training or match injury depending on the session when symptoms developed or aggravated, thus leading to the player interrupting that session or missing a subsequent session.