MUSCLE INJURY RATES IN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL INCREASE WITH FIXTURE CONGESTION: AN 11-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE INJURY STUDY. Issue 7 (11th March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bengtsson, H; Ekstrand, J; Waldén, M; Hägglund, M
• Is Part Of: British journal of sports medicine. Volume 48:Issue 7(2014)
• Page Start: 566
• Page End: 567
• Publication Date: 2014-03-11
• Subjects: Sports medicine -- Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2014-093494.19
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-3674

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The influence of fixture congestion on injury rates and team performance has only been scarcely investigated. Objective: To study associations between match load, recovery days, injury rates and team match performances in professional football. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: European professional football. Participants: 27 teams, all selected by the UEFA and all competing at the highest level of European football, playing 8 150 competitive matches during the 11-year study period were included. Assessment of risk factors: Injury rates and team match performances were compared depending on the number of recovery days between matches using two different cut offs (≤3 vs. >3 days and ≤4 vs. ≥6 days). Match load, injury rates and team match performances were also studied over extended match sequences during the season, each sequence containing five consecutive matches over a mean of 27 days (range 7–104 days). Main outcome measurements: Number of time loss injuries/1000 h of exposure and amount of matches won, lost or drawn. Results: Team performance showed no association with match load except for Europa League matches that indicated more matches lost with ≤3 days compared with >3 days recovery (P=.048). Total injury rates and muscle injury rates, specifically hamstring and quadriceps injuries, were increased in league matches with ≤4 days compared with ≥6 days recovery preceding the match (rate ratio [RR] 1.09, 95% CI 1.00–1.18, and RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.15–1.51, respectively) while no differences were found when using the other cut off (≤3 vs. >3 days). High match load during a match sequence was associated with an increase in muscle injury rates (P=.012). Conclusions: Fixture congestion was associated with increased muscle injury rates but had no, or very limited, influence on team match performances.