Effects of the COVID-19 confinement period on hip strength, flexibility and muscle injury rate in professional soccer players

Author(s):  
Cigdem Demir ◽  
Burak Subasi ◽  
Gulcan Harput
2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  

Background: Muscle injuries affect up to 72% of professional soccer players within one season and there are well reviewed, but muscle injuries in youth soccer players are not widely documented. The aim of this study was to investigate incidence, localization, pathomechanism and point of time of indirect muscle injuries in youth soccer players. Methods: Prospective cohort study. 5 teams (U15, U16, U17, U18 and U21) with 110 young male football players (age 16,8 (14,3–21) years, height 174,5 (146,1–190,0) cm, weight 65,7 (35,5–84,6) kg) were monitored for 12 months. Every muscle injury was documented and monitored on a standardized evaluation score. Results: In total, 53 muscle injuries were registered. On average, a player sustained 0,4 muscle injuries per season. There was only one re-injury (2%). The injury rate was 1,5 injuries per 1000h match- or /training hours, the match injury rate (6,9) being 7,7 times higher than the training injury rate (0,9). Sixty-nine percent were functional muscle injuries. Thirty-seven percent of all muscle injuries affected the hamstrings group and twenty-eight percent the adductors. The most common pathomechanism was overload (28%). Most of the injuries were recorded during the last 15 minutes of a game or a training (39,6%). Conclusion: Muscle injuries are a substantial problem for players and clubs, also in young male football players. This study confirmed previous results showing that the injury rate during games is higher than during trainings and that hamstrings injuries are the most common muscle injuries in soccer. However, a prolonged study period is recommended to gain better statistical values.


Joints ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 04 (01) ◽  
pp. 039-046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Grassi ◽  
Alberto Quaglia ◽  
Gian Canata ◽  
Stefano Zaffagnini

Muscle injuries are recognized to be among the most frequent injuries occurring in the sporting and athletic population, and they account for more than 30% of all injuries in professional soccer players. Despite their considerable frequency and impact, there is still a lack of uniformity in the categorization, description and grading of muscle injuries.Dozens of systems based on clinical signs, ultrasound imaging (US) appearance or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings have been proposed over the years. Most of them are three-grade systems that take into account pain, ROM limitation, swelling and hematoma, hypoechoic or hyperintense areas on US or MRI, and muscle gap or tendon involvement; however, they still lack evidence-based prognostic value. Recently, new comprehensive classification systems have been proposed, with the aim of developing uniform muscle injury terminology and giving each severity grade prognostic value.The systems that combine detailed MRI and US features with the clinical presentation, such as the Munich Muscle Injury Classification, the ISMuLT classification, and the British Athletic Classification, if used extensively, could improve the diagnosis, prognosis and management of muscle injuries.


2019 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Corbin A. Hedt ◽  
Jentry M. Pearson ◽  
Bradley S. Lambert ◽  
Patrick C. McCulloch ◽  
Joshua D. Harris

2018 ◽  
Vol 02 (03) ◽  
pp. E84-E90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eyal Eliakim ◽  
Ofer Doron ◽  
Yoav Meckel ◽  
Dan Nemet ◽  
Alon Eliakim

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to assess prospectively the effect of pre-season fitness on injury rate during the competitive season among professional soccer players. Thirty-one players participated in the study during two consecutive competitive seasons (2015–16 and 2016–17; a squad of 22 players in each season). During the 6-week pre-season training period (8 training sessions and a friendly match every week, 14–18 training hours/week) there was a significant improvement in VO2 max, a significant increase in ideal and total sprint time and no change in vertical jump, flexibility and repeated sprint-test performance decrement. During the two consecutive seasons, 28 injuries were recorded. Ten injuries were classified as mild (missing 3–7 days of practice/match), 8 as moderate (missing 8–28 days) and 10 as severe (missing >28 days). The rate of match injuries was higher (9.4 per 1000 match hours) compared to practice injuries (4.7 per 1000 training hours). Most injuries were overuse injuries (72%) of the lower limbs (71%). Most of match injuries occurred during the last 15 min of each half. There were no differences in fitness characteristics in the beginning of pre-season training between injured and non-injured players. However, improvements in VO2 max during the pre-season training period were significantly lower among injured players (0.9±5.5%) compared to non-injured players (10.4±6.5%, p<0.05). Our results emphasize the importance of pre-season training in professional soccer players not only for improvement in fitness but also for injury prevention during the following competitive season.


Author(s):  
James S. B. Kho ◽  
Rajesh Botchu ◽  
Alison Rushton ◽  
Steven L. James

Abstract Objective This study aims to describe the prevalence, anatomy and morphology of ERSA (exercise-related signal abnormality) lesions, a previously undescribed pattern of muscle signal changes on MRI in professional soccer players with suspected acute thigh muscle injury. Methods A multicenter retrospective review was performed of 287 MRIs of professional soccer players referred for suspected acute thigh injury from August 2017 to February 2020. MR images were reviewed for muscle signal abnormalities corresponding to a peritendinous ovoid region or a subfascial ring of faint increased signal on fluid-sensitive MR images. Imaging features including anatomical site, morphology, and craniocaudal length were recorded. Concomitant acute muscle injury was graded in accordance with the British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification (BAMIC). Results ERSA lesions comprising a peritendinous ovoid region, a subfascial ring, or both, were identified in 40 muscles across 31/287 studies (10.8%). These lesions had a mean length of 15.8 cm and were predominantly located in the proximal or mid-portions of muscles. Affected muscles were rectus femoris (n = 22), adductor longus (n = 11), semitendinosus (n = 6) and biceps femoris (n = 1). 21/31 studies (67.7%) had a BAMIC grade 1–4 injury in a separate muscle, which were largely (81%) in a separate anatomic compartment or contralateral. Conclusion ERSA lesions were evident on MRI in 10.8% of our cohort of professional soccer players referred for suspected acute thigh muscle injury. Characteristic morphology and the longitudinal length (mean 15.8 cm) distinguish ERSA lesions from recognized patterns of acute muscle injury.


2009 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Machado ◽  
Anselmo Carvalho Breder ◽  
Marcio Carvalho Ximenes ◽  
Jarbas Rodrigues Simões ◽  
José Fábio Florentino Vigo

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of caffeine supplementation and intermittent exercise on the muscle injury markers in soccer players. 15 male professional soccer players completed a placebo controlled double blind test protocol. 45 minutes before exercise, participants ingested 5.5 mg.kg-1 body mass of caffeine (EXP, n=8) or placebo (CONT, n=7). The exercise was 12 sets of 10 sprints (20 m each) with 10 sec recovery time between sprints and 2 min between sets. Blood samples were collected before (PRE) and 48h after exercise (POST). Serum activity of CK, LDH, AST, and ALT were quantified. Serum enzyme activity was enhanced by exercise in both groups, without a synergistic effect of caffeine. The findings suggest muscle injury markers concentration increases after physical activities, but caffeine supplementation (as used in this study) has no influence upon muscle cellular integrity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e000431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Carolina Côrte ◽  
André Pedrinelli ◽  
Antonio Marttos ◽  
Ivan Furlan Grava Souza ◽  
Joaquim Grava ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo evaluate thermography application as a complementary method in preventing muscle injury in professional soccer players. MethodsA longitudinal prospective study with 28 professional soccer players that composed a first division of Brazilian’s soccer team between 2015 and 2016. In both seasons (2015 and 2016), muscle injuries were documented and classified in grade of severity, by ultrasound. During the following season (2016), infrared medical thermography was applied twice a week (48 hours after game) and if a difference of temperature was detected higher than 0.4°C, a prevention protocol was initiated. Muscle injuries in 2016 were documented.ResultsIn 2015, the total number of muscle injuries was 11. In 2016, the total number of muscle injuries was 4 (p=0.04). It represents an incidence/player of 78% in 2015 and 28% in 2016, corresponding to a decrease of 64% in 2016. Seven players played in the first team in both seasons. Among these seven players, muscle injuries were reduced from 8 (in 2015) to 3 (in 2016)—a decrease of 63% in the season we used thermographic monitoring (p=0.06).ConclusionThe pilot data provide a promising catalyst for a rigorous RCT that could examine whether thermography can contribute to a muscle injury prevention programme.


2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Witvrouw ◽  
Lieven Danneels ◽  
Peter Asselman ◽  
Thomas D'Have ◽  
Dirk Cambier

Background Muscular tightness is frequently postulated as an intrinsic risk factor for the development of a muscle injury. However, very little prospective data exist to prove this. Hypothesis Increased muscle tightness identifies a soccer player at risk for a subsequent musculoskeletal lesion. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Methods We examined 146 male professional soccer players before the 1999–2000 Belgian soccer competition. None of the players had a history of muscle injury in the lower extremities in the previous 2 years. The flexibility of the hamstring, quadriceps, adductor, and calf muscles of these players was measured goniometrically before the start of the season. All of the examined players were monitored throughout the season to register subsequent injuries. Results Players with a hamstring (N = 31) or quadriceps (N = 13) muscle injury were found to have significantly lower flexibility in these muscles before their injury compared with the uninjured group. No significant differences in muscle flexibility were found between players who sustained an adductor muscle injury (N = 13) or a calf muscle injury (N = 10) and the uninjured group. Conclusions These results indicate that soccer players with an increased tightness of the hamstring or quadriceps muscles have a statistically higher risk for a subsequent musculoskeletal lesion. Clinical Significance Preseason hamstring and quadriceps muscle flexibility testing can identify male soccer players at risk of developing hamstring and quadriceps muscle injuries.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 801-807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Raya-González ◽  
Luis Suárez-Arrones ◽  
Archit Navandar ◽  
Carlos Balsalobre-Fernández ◽  
Eduardo Sáez de Villarreal

Context: As the number of injuries in young soccer players increases, an epidemiological study is the first step in improving preventive strategies. Objectives: To analyze the injury profile of a Spanish professional soccer club’s academy during 4 consecutive seasons and to examine the injury incidence across different chronological age groups. Design: Prospective cohort design. Setting: Aggregate injury and exposure data collected during 4 consecutive seasons. Participants: Three hundred nine elite male young soccer players. Main Outcomes Measures: Injuries that led to participation time missed from training and match play prospectively reported by medical or coaching staff of the club. Results: A total of 464 time-loss injuries were observed during this study period. The overall injury incidence was 2.93 injuries per 1000 hours, with higher incidence during matches than during training (10.16 vs 2.10 injuries/1000 h; rate ratio [RR] = 0.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.17–0.25; P < .05), with the U14 age group presenting the lowest injury rate (2.39 injuries/1000 h; RR = 1.15–1.57; P < .05). In terms of injury severity, moderate injuries were the most frequent (1.42 injuries/1000 h). Muscle injuries were the most common type of injuries (57.7%; 2.75 injuries/1000 h; RR = 1.84–13.4; P < .05), and hamstrings (93/268) were the most affected muscle group (0.58 injuries/1000 h; RR = 1.58–2.91; P < .05). Injury incidence showed a seasonal variation as indicated by peaks in August and October. In matches, specifically, the match period between 75 and 90 minutes showed the highest injury incidence (10.29 injuries/1000 h; RR = 1.89–6.38; P < .01). Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that specific preventive strategies must be implemented to try to reduce the injury incidence in Spanish elite young soccer players attending to the characteristics of each age group.


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