Citation

Hoenig T, Edouard P, Krause M, Malhan D, Relógio A, Junge A, Hollander K. J. Sci. Med. Sport 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Sports Medicine Australia, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsams.2021.11.038

PMID

34916169

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: It has been claimed that analyses of large datasets from publicly accessible, open-collaborated ("citizen science-based") online databases may provide additional insight into the epidemiology of injuries in professional football [soccer]. However, this approach comes with major limitations, raising critical questions about the current trend of utilizing citizen science-based data. Therefore, we aimed to determine if citizen science-based health data from a popular online database on professional football players can be used for epidemiological research, i.e. in providing results comparable to other data sources used in previously published studies.

DESIGN: Retrospective database analysis.

METHODS: Transfermarkt.com (Transfermarkt; Hamburg; Germany) is a publicly accessible online database on various data of professional football players. All information provided in the section "injury history" of football players from the top five European leagues over a period of ten seasons (2009/10-2018/19) was analyzed. Frequency, characteristics, and incidence of injuries were reported according to seasons and countries, and results compared with three previously published databases (a scientific injury surveillance, a media-based study, and an insurance database).

RESULTS: Overall, 21,598 injuries of 11,507 players were analyzed from the Transfermarkt.com database. Incidence was 0.63 injuries per player-season (95% confidence interval 0.62 to 0.64) but significant differences between subgroups (countries, years) were found. In comparison to other databases, citizen science-based data was associated with lower injury incidences and higher proportions of severe injuries.

CONCLUSIONS: With few exceptions (e.g., severe injuries), the use of citizen science-based health data on professional football players cannot be recommended at present for epidemiological research.

Language: en

Keywords

Epidemiology; Community science; Injury surveillance; Media; Soccer