Knee stability, athletic performance and sportspecific tasks in non-professional soccer players after ACL reconstruction: comparing trans-tibial and antero-medial portal techniques

Purpose: Many studies report a high primary success rate of ACL reconstruction (ACLR), with an increased risk of decline in knee performance correlating with the time passed since surgery. Only one study has compared male soccer players after ACLR to a matched control group of uninjured players in terms of their return to sport and performance. The purpose of this cross-sectional case-control study was to determine the knee performance between soccer players after ACLR and control group matched by age, sex, and professional experience. Methods: All the male professional soccer players aged 18–36 years at the time of injury, who sustained an ACL tear while playing league soccer in Poland between January 2008 and December 2011 were contacted and compared with age and experience-matched healthy control group selected from professional football players. KOOS, IKDC-2000, Lysholm and SF-36 scales were used for comparison. Results: The average follow-up was 7.9 years (range 6–9 years). The ACL-injured soccer players scored significantly lower in IKDC and Lysholm scores compared with the reference group but still were classified as normal knee function in both scales. In all five dimensions of the KOOS and subscales of SF-36 no apparent differences were noted. In all scales in the study group, no correlation was observed between the player’s age and follow-up time after ACLR. Conclusion: After ACL reconstruction and successful return to professional sport, knee function is as good as uninjured team members in the midterm follow-up. Level of evidence: III

Download Full-text

Inter-relationship between sleep quality, insomnia and sleep disorders in professional soccer players

BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine ◽

10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000498 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. e000498

Author(s):

Karim Khalladi ◽

Abdulaziz Farooq ◽

Sofiane Souissi ◽

Christopher P Herrera ◽

Karim Chamari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Sleep Disorders ◽

Athletic Performance ◽

Daytime Sleepiness ◽

Severity Index ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Poor Sleep Quality ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Professional Soccer

ObjectiveInsufficient sleep duration and quality has negative effects on athletic performance, injury susceptibility and athlete development. This study aimed to assess the sleep characteristics of professional Qatar Stars League (QSL) soccer players.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study, QSL players (n=111; 23.7±4.8 years) completed three questionnaires to screen sleep disorders: (1) Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), (2) Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and (3) Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Poor sleep quality was defined as PSQI≥5, excessive daytime sleepiness was defined by ESS>8 and insomnia was defined as ISI≥11.ResultsThe prevalence of poor sleep quality (PSQI≥5) was 68.5%, with subthreshold insomnia (ISI≥11) 27.0% and daytime sleepiness 22.5% (ESS>8). Sleep quality was positively associated with insomnia (r=0.42, p<0.001) and daytime sleepiness (r=0.23, p=0.018). Age, anthropometry, body composition and ethnicity were not associated with any of the reported sleep quality parameters.ConclusionThe prevalence of poor sleep quality (68.5%) reported should concern practitioners. Increasing awareness of the importance of sleep relative to athletic performance, recovery, injury and illness appears prudent. Further, regular qualitative/quantitative sleep monitoring may help target subsequent evidence-informed interventions to improve sleep in those demonstrating undesirable sleep traits.

Download Full-text

The Effect of NeuroMuscular Electrical Stimulation on Quadriceps Strength and Knee Function in Professional Soccer Players: Return to Sport after ACL Reconstruction

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2013/802534 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

J. Taradaj ◽

T. Halski ◽

M. Kucharzewski ◽

K. Walewicz ◽

A. Smykla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Acl Reconstruction ◽

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Return To Sport ◽

Quadriceps Muscle ◽

Quadriceps Strength ◽

Knee Function ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Professional Soccer

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of NMES program applied in male soccer players (after ACL reconstruction) on the quadriceps muscle. The 80 participants (NMES = 40, control = 40) received an exercise program, including three sessions weekly. The individuals in NMES group additionally received neuromuscular electrical stimulation procedures on both right and left quadriceps (biphasic symmetric rectangular pulses, frequency of impulses: 2500 Hz, and train of pulses frequency: 50 Hz) three times daily (3 hours of break between treatments), 3 days a week, for one month. The tensometry, muscle circumference, and goniometry pendulum test (follow-up after 1 and 3 months) were applied. The results of this study show that NMES (in presented parameters in experiment) is useful for strengthening the quadriceps muscle in soccer athletes. There is an evidence of the benefit of the NMES in restoring quadriceps muscle mass and strength of soccer players. In our study the neuromuscular electrical stimulation appeared to be safe for biomechanics of knee joint. The pathological changes in knee function were not observed. This trial is registered with Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials RegistryACTRN12613001168741.

Download Full-text

Return-to-Play Times and Player Performance After ACL Reconstruction in Elite UEFA Professional Soccer Players: A Matched-Cohort Analysis From 1999 to 2019

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/23259671211008892 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 232596712110088

Author(s):

Brian Forsythe ◽

Ophelie Z. Lavoie-Gagne ◽

Enrico M. Forlenza ◽

Connor C. Diaz ◽

Randy Mascarenhas

Keyword(s):

Acl Reconstruction ◽

Cohort Analysis ◽

Acl Rupture ◽

Return To Play ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Matched Cohort ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

The Mean ◽

Player Performance ◽

The Impact

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is one of the most common injuries afflicting soccer players and requires a lengthy recovery processes after reconstructive surgery. The impact of ACL reconstruction (ACLR) on return to play (RTP) time and player performance in professional soccer players remains poorly studied. Purpose/Hypothesis: To determine player performance and RTP rate and time after ACLR in elite professional soccer players with a retrospective matched-cohort analysis. We expected that the RTP time and rate will be similar to those of other professional-level athletes. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Included were 51 players from 1 of the 5 elite Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) soccer leagues who suffered a complete ACL rupture between 1999 and 2019. These athletes were matched by position, age, season of injury, seasons played, and height and compared to uninjured control players. Change in performance metrics for the 4 years after the season of injury were compared with metrics 1 season before injury. Univariate 2-group comparisons were performed using independent 2-group t tests; Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used when normality of distributions was violated. Results: Overall, 41 players (80%) returned to play after ACL rupture, with 6 (12%) experiencing a subsequent ipsilateral or contralateral ACL tear. The mean (±SD) RTP time for soccer players after ACLR was 216 ± 109 days (26 ± 18 games). Injured athletes played significantly fewer games and minutes per season and recorded inferior performances for 2 seasons after their injury ( P < .001). However, the game performance of injured players equaled or exceeded that of their matched controls by season 3 after injury, with the exception of attackers, who demonstrated a continued decline in performance ( P < .001). Conclusion: Results indicated that the mean RTP time for soccer players after ACLR is short in comparison with other major sports leagues (216 days). However, RTP rates were high, and rerupture rates were comparable with those of other sports. With the exception of attackers, player performance largely equaled or exceeded that of matched controls by the third postinjury season.

Download Full-text

The relationship between isometric mid-thigh pull variables and athletic performance measures: empirical study of English professional soccer players and meta-analysis of extant literature

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness ◽

10.23736/s0022-4707.20.11205-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 61 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Liam MASON ◽

Andy KIRKLAND ◽

James STEELE ◽

James WRIGHT

Keyword(s):

Empirical Study ◽

Performance Measures ◽

Athletic Performance ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Extant Literature ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

The Relationship

Download Full-text

Training Management of the Elite Adolescent Soccer Player throughout Maturation

Sports ◽

10.3390/sports9120170 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 170

Author(s):

Alistair J. McBurnie ◽

Thomas Dos’Santos ◽

David Johnson ◽

Edward Leng

Keyword(s):

Athletic Performance ◽

Injury Risk ◽

Performance Monitoring ◽

Soccer Player ◽

Training Programme ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Youth Soccer ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Data Informed ◽

Multi Disciplinary Team

Professional soccer clubs invest significantly into the development of their academy prospects with the hopes of producing elite players. Talented youngsters in elite development systems are exposed to high amounts of sports-specific practise with the aims of developing the foundational skills underpinning the capabilities needed to excel in the game. Yet large disparities in maturation status, growth-related issues, and highly-specialised sport practise predisposes these elite youth soccer players to an increased injury risk. However, practitioners may scaffold a performance monitoring and injury surveillance framework over an academy to facilitate data-informed training decisions that may not only mitigate this inherent injury risk, but also enhance athletic performance. Constant communication between members of the multi-disciplinary team enables context to build around an individual’s training status and risk profile, and ensures that a progressive, varied, and bespoke training programme is provided at all stages of development to maximise athletic potential.

Download Full-text