Citation

Walden M, Hagglund M, Orchard J, Kristenson K, Ekstrand J. Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports 2013; 23(4): 424-430.

Affiliation

Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1600-0838.2011.01409.x

PMID

22092416

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate regional differences in injury incidence in men's professional football [soccer] in Europe. A nine-season prospective cohort study was carried out between 2001-2002 and 2009-2010 involving 1357 players in 25 teams from nine countries. Teams were categorized into different regions according to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system. Teams from the northern parts of Europe (n = 20) had higher incidences of injury overall [rate ratio 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06 to 1.20], training injury (rate ratio 1.16, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.27), and severe injury (rate ratio 1.29, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.52), all statistically significant, compared to teams from more southern parts (n = 5). In contrast, the anterior cruciate ligament injury incidence was lower in the northern European teams with a statistically significant difference (rate ratio 0.43, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.77), especially for noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury (rate ratio 0.19, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.39). In conclusion, this study suggests that there are regional differences in injury incidence of European professional football. However, further studies are needed to identify the underlying causes.

Language: en