A Longitudinal Investigation of Muscle Injuries in an Elite Spanish Male Academy Soccer Club: A Hamstring Injuries Approach

Abstract

The aims of this study were to analyze the muscle injury incidence in an elite Spanish soccer academy during three consecutive seasons attending to different chronological age groups (i.e., U14, U16, U19 and senior) and to examine the hamstring injury incidence in this elite soccer academy. Elite male youth soccer players (227) participated in this study. A total of 207 time-loss injuries (i.e., injuries that involve at least one absence day) were observed during this study period. The overall incidence rate of muscle injury was 1.74 muscle injuries/1000 h. In addition, higher muscle injury incidence was observed during match play in comparison to training sessions (6.78 vs. 3.20 muscle injuries/1000 h, p < 0.05). The oldest age group presented the highest injury rate (2.73 muscle injuries/1000 h, p < 0.05), with the burden (i.e., number of absence days per 1000 h of exposure) peak values recorded in the U16 age group (26.45 absence days/1000 h). In addition, muscle tears accounted for the greatest percentage of muscle injuries (43.5%), and the most frequent anatomical site of injury was the hamstring (30.4%). Muscle tear was the most common type of hamstring injury (49.2%), with the biceps femoris the most commonly injured muscle of the hamstring complex (39.7%). Fullbacks (FB), wide midfielders (WM) and forwards (F) suffered a greater number of hamstring injuries. Hamstring injury incidence showed a seasonal variation, as indicated by peaks in August and October. Specifically, the highest injury incidence was observed in the final part of each period during match play. These results reinforce the necessity to implement individual preventive strategies according to each specific injury profile across the youth soccer development phase.

The Football Association Injury and Illness Surveillance Study: The Incidence, Burden and Severity of Injuries and Illness in Men’s and Women’s International Football

“…In men’s club football, the UEFA Elite Club Study (UECS) [ 10 ] has provided a commonality in definitions and the injury and illness reporting process [ 11 ], and has provided an insight into injury and illness in men’s professional football in the European leagues [ 10 , 12 ]. Epidemiological information also exists in elite youth football [ 13 , 14 ]. However, while these studies provide useful information, data from international or women’s football does not form part of their analyses.…”

Injury Profile of Male and Female Senior and Youth Handball Players: A Systematic Review

“…Attending to youth populations, Asai et al [31] showed a higher incidence in sprain injuries (128 injuries), with very high values compared to contusions (80 injuries). These differences with senior players could be due to youth players still not having a fully developed musculoskeletal system [54]. However, this finding should be taken with caution because of the lack of studies reporting injury type in youth handball players [31].…”

Injury Profile in Professional Handball Players During 4 Consecutive Seasons According to Playing Positions: A Longitudinal Study

“…1,17 Furthermore, there has been an increased recognition that injury burden (e.g the number of absence days per 1000 h of exposure time) is an important parameter to report, especially in relation to specific positions within team sports. 2,29 Despite the fact that this valuable information could help to develop successful risk management strategies, burden has not been previously reported in professional handball players.…”