No increased injury incidence in the German Bundesliga after the SARS-CoV-2 virus lockdown

Abstract

Introduction The coronavirus lockdown in 2020 resulted in a worldwide suspension of professional sports. The first major professional football league to restart after the lockdown was the German Bundesliga. This study investigates whether the injury incidence increased after the restart of the season with only 9 days of regular preparation time and without any friendly matches in comparison to three control periods. Materials and methods In a prospective cohort study, injury analysis (at least 1 day of absence from official football matches or training sessions) of the German Bundesliga registry was standardised according to Hägglund et al. (Br J Sports Med 39:340–346, 2005) and Fuller et al. (Clin J Sports Med 16:97–106, 2006) for data collection and to previous publications for the validated use of media sources for injury registration. The study period after the lockdown in May and June of the 2019–2020 season was compared to three control periods: the period directly before the lockdown, the beginning of the 2019–2020 season and the 2018–2019 season final. Results The nine match days after the restart of the 2019–2020 season showed an overall injury incidence of 4.9 per 1000 h football. This rate was significantly lower than that of the previous season final (9 last match days, overall injury incidence: 6.9 per 1000 h football; p < 0.001) and not increased compared to the rates after the summer break (9 match days; incidence: 5.5/1000 h, p > 0.05) or the winter break (8 match days; incidence: 5.6/1000 h, p > 0.05). Conclusion The period after the unexpected break in the 2019–2020 season due to the coronavirus lockdown and the rapid return to competition showed no increase in the injury rate compared to the pre-lockdown period and a lower injury rate than in the previous season final. The unintentional mid-season rest with its potential for physical recovery and individual fitness training seems to have had a positive effect on injury occurrence.

LaLiga Lockdown: Conditioning Strategy and Adaptation to In-Game Regulations during COVID-19 Pandemic Prevented an Increase in Injury Incidence

“…This increase in the rating of match injury was mostly associated with muscle-type injuries, particularly because of an abnormal number of injuries at the first matchday after the resumption of the championship. However, in the study by Krutsch et al [ 14 ], injury incidence in the matches played after the lockdown were similar to the pre-lockdown period. Interestingly, these two investigations present some contradictory results despite analyzing the same event.…”

“…The only published information describing the effect of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic on injury epidemiology has been provided with data from the Bundesliga [ 13 , 14 ]. Seshadari et al [ 13 ] found a significant increase in the number of injuries per match in the Bundesliga after the resumption of the competition, at least in comparison to pre-lockdown.…”

“…Interestingly, these two investigations present some contradictory results despite analyzing the same event. The lack of agreement between investigations may be due to differences in data collection, as both Seshadari et al [ 13 ] and Krutsch et al [ 14 ] obtained injury data from public databases instead of gathering information directly from the football clubs. Specifically, Seshadri et al [ 13 ] used a Transfermarkt to report and quantify injury rates, while Krutsch et al [ 14 ] used information from the German kicker ® sports magazine.…”

“…In a study by Seshadari et al [ 13 ], the authors reported a threefold increase in the incidence of injuries during football matches after the resumption of competition, especially with regard to muscle-type injuries. However, in a study by Krutsch et al [ 14 ], the prevalence of injuries in matches played after the lockdown did not significantly differ from that in the pre-lockdown period, and they also found a significantly lower injury rate. The Bundesliga was the first football league to resume competition after just 10 weeks of suspension.…”

“…To the authors’ knowledge, only two studies [ 13 , 14 ] compared injury rates before and after the lockdown, both in the German football league ( Bundesliga ). In a study by Seshadari et al [ 13 ], the authors reported a threefold increase in the incidence of injuries during football matches after the resumption of competition, especially with regard to muscle-type injuries.…”