Effect of an Injury Prevention Program on Muscle Injuries in Elite Professional Soccer

The ideal implementation of soccer injury prevention programs is essential knowledge for soccer coaches. The objective of this study was to investigate and compare the implementation of injury prevention programs, specially the FIFA 11+ program, among Australian and Saudi Arabian soccer coaches. A Web-based survey was used to obtain information regarding the coaches’ implementation of injury prevention programs, the FIFA 11+ program, the Nordic hamstring exercise, pre- and post-training exercises. Sixty coaches—30 from both selected countries—responded to the survey (response rate = 75%). In Australia, 93% of the coaches implemented an injury prevention program; while 73% implemented the FIFA 11+ program, only 51% implemented all the FIFA 11+ exercise components as recommended. In Saudi Arabia, 70% of the coaches stated that they followed an injury prevention program, but only 40% followed the FIFA 11+ program. However, 70% reported using all the FIFA 11+ exercise components in their current practices, which they may have adapted from different exercise-based injury prevention programs. The Australian coaches were significantly more likely to implement injury prevention programs ( p = 0.020) and the FIFA 11+ program ( p = 0.009). Nonetheless, no significant difference in the full implementation of the FIFA 11+ exercises components was found ( p = 0.114). The Australian coaches had greater awareness of injury prevention programs and more familiarity with the FIFA 11+ program than the Saudi Arabian coaches. Nevertheless, there was a gap between the coaches’ knowledge and their actual practice.

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Infrared Thermography Protocol on Reducing the Incidence of Soccer Injuries

Journal of Sport Rehabilitation ◽

10.1123/jsr.2019-0056 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (8) ◽

pp. 1222-1227 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Pedro Gómez-Carmona ◽

Ismael Fernández-Cuevas ◽

Manuel Sillero-Quintana ◽

Javier Arnaiz-Lastras ◽

Archit Navandar

Keyword(s):

Injury Prevention ◽

Infrared Thermography ◽

Prevention Program ◽

Injury Severity ◽

Injury Incidence ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Injury Prevention Program ◽

Prospective Study Design ◽

Injury Classification

Context: Infrared thermography has been used to detect skeletal muscle overload and fatigue in athletes, but its use in injury prevention in professional soccer has not been studied to date. Objectives: To establish a novel injury prevention program based on infrared thermography and to determine its influence on the injury incidence in professional soccer players in the preseason. Design: A cross-sectional, prospective study design was used to compare a conventional injury prevention program (CPP) applied over the first preseason and an infrared thermography injury prevention program (IRTPP) carried out in the following preseason. Setting: Soccer training ground. Participants: Twenty-four players belonging to a first division soccer team from Spain. Main Outcome Measures: Injury incidences of each player were recorded according to the Orchard Sports Injury Classification System (version 10.0) convention to determine the injury classification, location, and type. Results: The incidence of injuries decreased from 15 injuries in the CPP preseason (0.63 [0.77] injuries per player) to 6 injuries in the second preseason when the IRTPP was applied (0.25 [0.53] injuries per player). The days of absence due to injuries also decreased from the CPP preseason (156 d, 10.4 [11.0] d per injury) to the IRTPP preseason (14 d, 2.3 [2.8] d per injury). The injury severity also decreased from the first preseason to the second preseason, and fewer musculoskeletal injuries in the thigh, hip, and groin were reported. Conclusions: The implementation of an IRTPP can reduce the presence of injuries by identifying players potentially at risk and as a result, reducing the injury severity and days lost as a consequence.

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The FIFA 11+ Injury Prevention Program Still not Implemented by the Majority of Professional and Semi-professional Soccer Players and Coaches Globally

The Open Sports Sciences Journal ◽

10.2174/1875399x02114010058 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 58-62

Author(s):

Wesam Saleh A. Al Attar ◽

Saud Alarifi ◽

Ibrahim Alramadhani ◽

Majed Aljabri ◽

Mashaer Alyami ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Injury Prevention ◽

Prevention Program ◽

Sports Medicine ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Research Centre ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Implementation Rate ◽

Injury Prevention Program ◽

Awareness Level

Background: The Fédération International de Football Association (FIFA) has promoted and deployed the FIFA 11+ injury prevention program worldwide. Developed by the FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre (F-MARC), the program relied on the results of an international randomized controlled trial that aimed to reduce sport-related injuries and healthcare costs. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the awareness level, implementation rate, and opinions about the effectiveness of the FIFA 11+ Injury Prevention Program among professional and semi-professional soccer players and coaches worldwide. Methods: In all, 2000 professional and semi-professional soccer players and coaches were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire. Several authors, who are experts in sports medicine and injury prevention, participated in developing the questionnaire. The primary outcomes were awareness level, implementation rate, and opinion on the FIFA 11+ Program’s effectiveness in reducing injuries. Results: A total of 1690 professional and semi-professional soccer players and coaches completed the survey (response rate: 84.5%). A total of 824 professional and semi-professional soccer players and coaches (48.8%) were aware of the FIFA 11+ Program, and 680 (83.8%) reported implementing the program in their practice. The participants who implemented the program reported a positive attitude toward the program’s efficacy, with a score of 8.20 ± 1.10 out of 10. Conclusion: More than half of professional and semi-professional soccer players and coaches from different continents are not aware of the FIFA 11+ Injury Prevention Program. Therefore, educating players and coaches is necessary for increased implementation and injury reduction.

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