AimTo ascertain ACL injury incidence, severity (injury burden) and patterns (contact/non-contact and reinjuries) in a professional male football league in the Middle East over five consecutive seasons.MethodsProspective epidemiological study reporting ACL injuries in professional male soccer players in the Qatar Stars League, with complete matches/training exposure over five seasons (2013–2014 to 2017–2018), corresponding to 2243 player seasons and 729 team months.Results37 complete ACL ruptures occurred in 37 players during 486 951 hours of player exposure. The overall ACL injury rate was 0.076 injuries/1000 hours of exposure (season range 0.045–0.098). Injury incidence during matches and training was 0.41 and 0.04 injuries/1000 hours of exposure, respectively. Match injury incidence was greater than that of training (OR 11.8, 95% CI 6.21 to 23.23, p<0.001). Average injury-related time-loss following ACL injury was 225 days±65 (range 116–360). Overall injury burden was 16.3 days lost/1000 hours of exposure.ConclusionThe overall ACL injury rate in professional male soccer players competing in the Middle East was 0.076 injuries/1000 hours of exposure, match injury incidence was greater than training, while the average ACL time-loss was 225 days.
Previous literature suggests that human behaviour and physiology are somehow altered by the moon-cycle, with particular emphasis on poorer sleep quality and increased aggressive behaviour during full moon. The latter variables can negatively impact athletes' recovery and increase the likelihood of injury resulting from collision with another athlete. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the association between the lunar cycle and injury risk in professional football players (soccer). We monitored injuries and player exposure in the premier professional league in Qatar during four consecutive seasons (2013-2014 through 2016-2017). Acute (sudden-onset traumatic) injuries (n = 1184; 587 from contact with another player and 597 without player contact) recorded during matches and training were classified according to the lunar cycle characteristics on the date of injury: (i) moon illumination, (ii) lunar distance from earth and (iii) tidal coefficient, acquired from the lunar calendar and tide tables. We used a Poisson regression model to examine the relationship between injury risk and lunar cycle characteristics. We did not detect any association between injury risk and moon illumination, earth-to-moon distance or tidal coefficient, not for all acute injuries, nor for contact and non-contact injuries when examined separately. The findings suggest that the full moon or new moon or the gravitational pull have no effect on football injuries. Thus, organisers need not consult moon or tide tables when planning future event schedules.
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