Citation

Ekstrand J, Hägglund M, Törnqvist H, Kristenson K, Bengtsson H, Magnusson H, Waldén M. Knee Surg. Sports Traumatol. Arthrosc. 2013; 21(7): 1626-1632.

Affiliation

Football Research Group, Division of Community Medicine, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Solstigen 3, 58943, Linköping, Sweden, jan.ekstrand@telia.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00167-012-2164-6

PMID

22903265

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate the epidemiology of upper extremity injuries in male elite football (soccer) players and to describe their characteristics, incidence and lay-off times. METHODS: Between 2001 and 2011, 57 male European elite football teams (2,914 players and 6,215 player seasons) were followed prospectively. Time-loss injuries and exposure to training and matches were recorded on individual basis. RESULTS: In total, 11,750 injuries were recorded, 355 (3 %) of those affected the upper extremities giving an incidence of 0.23 injuries/1,000 h of football. The incidence in match play was almost 7 times higher than in training (0.83 vs. 0.12 injuries/1,000 h, rate ratio 6.7, 95 % confidence interval 5.5-8.3). As much as 32 % of traumatic match injuries occurred as a result of foul play situations. Goalkeepers had a significantly higher incidence of upper extremity injuries compared to outfield players (0.80 vs. 0.16 injuries/1,000 h, rate ratio 5.0, 95 % confidence interval 4.0-6.2). The average absence due to an upper extremity injury was 23 ± 34 days. CONCLUSIONS: Upper extremity injuries are uncommon among male elite football players. Goalkeepers, however, are prone to upper extremity injury, with a five times higher incidence compared to outfield players. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.


Keywords: Soccer

Language: en