Injury risk associated with playing actions during competitive soccer

N Rahnama, T Reilly and A Lees

Br J Sports Med 2002 36: 354-359

Rahnama et al attempted to assess the risk of injury in soccer in relation to 'the type of playing action', 'periods of the game', 'zones of the pitch' and 'playing at home or away' in a confusing 'armchair analysis' of English Premier League soccer injuries. The authors devised an arbitrary classification system to grade the risk associated with soccer-specific tasks, which were viewed using a TV and video recorder.

Whilst accepting the methodology used meant that only those injuries captured on TV were considered, the authors concluded that receiving a charge and making a tackle also have substantial risk associated with them and that other playing actions, such as the goalkeeper catching or punching the ball, kicking the ball, and heading the ball, all have a significant risk of injury.

The data collected by the authors suggested that the risk of injury is highest during the first and last 15 minutes of the game, which was attributed to the intense play at the start of a match and fatigue at the end of a match. Analysis of the location of injury on the pitch, using gridlines, led the authors to conclude that more injuries occurred in "specific attacking and defending zones where possession of the ball is most vigorously contested".

For the purpose of this study "actual injuries" were classified into three categories by the authors:

• "grade 1 was a minor injury where there was evidence of injury and the player received 'first aid' inside the field of play"
• "grade 2 was a moderate injury when the player received treatment off the field of play but continued for the remainder of the game"
• "grade 3 was a major injury when the player received treatment and left the field for the remainder of the game".

Again, this classification was based only on those incidents that were captured on the TV broadcast of the match. Those injuries that were not detected by the TV cameras were not included in the study. This is a major design flaw that may lead to a skewed interpretation of the results. For example, any injury that the player sustains, but does not disclose on the field of play, is ignored by this study. Many injuries, such as contusions, minor sprains and strains, and overuse conditions, are not normally presented to the medical team until after the match is over. Without taking a detailed history from each injured player it would not be possible to ascertain when, how and where the injury took place.

The methodology used in this study is not comprehensive enough to analyse all injuries. Therefore, the findings can only be related to collisions and activities related to contesting for possession of the ball. While the data collected in this study related to collision injury is consistent with previous studies on soccer injury epidemiology, it adds little to the knowledge base in this particular subject.

Read the full research text >

• Home
• Research
• Research Reviews

Recommended Products

LEARN

SHOP

© Copyright PhysioRoom.com 2001-2008. All rights reserved. Sitemap.

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE
The articles on this web site are provided for general information only and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or treatment. All exercises and information featured on this web site should only be practised under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.

We accept most major credit/debits cards

PhysioRoom.com Limited, Unit 1 & 2 Dawson Court, Billington Road, Burnley, Lancashire BB11 5UB, England

Sports Injury & Physiotherapy Search Marketing by Epiphany.