Footballscience.net
As previous literature updates, I have performed a PubCrawler search looking for football articles in NCBI Medline (PubMed) and GenBank databases.
Following studies were retrieved for this week:
#1 Genetic profiles to identify talents in elite endurance athletes and professional football players
Reference: PLoS One. 2022 Sep 16;17(9):e0274880. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274880. eCollection 2022.
Authors: David Varillas-Delgado, Esther Morencos, Jorge Gutiérrez-Hellín, Millán Aguilar-Navarro, Alejandro Muñoz, Nuria Mendoza Láiz, Teresa Perucho, Antonio Maestro, Juan José Tellería-Orriols
Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9480996/pdf/pone.0274880.pdf
Summary: The genetic profile that is needed to identify talents has been studied extensively in recent years. The main objective of this investigation was to approach, for the first time, the study of genetic variants in several polygenic profiles and their role in elite endurance and professional football performance by comparing the allelic and genotypic frequencies to the non-athlete population. In this study, genotypic and allelic frequencies were determined in 452 subjects: 292 professional athletes (160 elite endurance athletes and 132 professional football players) and 160 non-athlete subjects. Genotyping of polymorphisms in liver metabolisers (CYP2D6, GSTM1, GSTP and GSTT), iron metabolism and energy efficiency (HFE, AMPD1 and PGC1a), cardiorespiratory fitness (ACE, NOS3, ADRA2A, ADRB2 and BDKRB2) and muscle injuries (ACE, ACTN3, AMPD1, CKM and MLCK) was performed by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Single Nucleotide Primer Extension (PCR-SNPE). The combination of the polymorphisms for the "optimal" polygenic profile was quantified using the genotype score (GS) and total genotype score (TGS). Statistical differences were found in the genetic distributions between professional athletes and the non-athlete population in liver metabolism, iron metabolism and energy efficiency, and muscle injuries (p<0.001). The binary logistic regression model showed a favourable OR (odds ratio) of being a professional athlete against a non-athlete in liver metabolism (OR: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.28-3.01; p = 0.002), iron metabolism and energy efficiency (OR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.42-3.43; p < 0.001), and muscle injuries (OR: 2.70; 95% CI: 1.75-4.16; p < 0.001) in the polymorphisms studied. Genetic distribution in professional athletes as regards endurance (professional cyclists and elite runners) and professional football players shows genetic selection in these sports disciplines.
#2 The use of sand as an alternative surface for training, injury prevention and rehabilitation in English professional football and barriers to implementation: a cross-sectional survey of medical staff
Reference: Sci Med Footb. 2022 Sep 19;1-9. doi: 10.1080/24733938.2022.2125566. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Mark C Richardson, Bryan English, Paul Chesterton
Summary: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the use of sand as an alternative surface for training, injury prevention and rehabilitation interventions in English professional football. A Secondary aim was to explore the potential barriers to implementation. All 92 teams from the male English professional football pyramid during the 2021-22 season were eligible to take part. A cross-sectional survey of the medical personnel (one per club) was conducted between June 2021 and December 2021 based on the RE-AIM framework. A total of 58 respondents (63% of all clubs) completed the survey. Only 18 (31%) of the clubs surveyed used sand-based interventions across the last 3 seasons. Respondents felt sand-based interventions would be effective at improving physiological gains (median 4, interquartile range [IQR] 4-5) and as part of injury prevention and rehabilitation strategies (4, IQR 3-4) but were indifferent in relation to its potential to improve sporting performance (3, IQR 3-4). Barriers to implementation of sand-based interventions within wider football were a lack of facilities, lack of awareness of its potential benefits, lack of high-quality evidence and the surface not being specific to the sport. Medical staff also did not perceive that coaches' positively viewed sand interventions as a training or injury management strategy.
#3 Defining the attributes for specific playing positions in football match-play: A complex systems approach
Reference: J Sports Sci. 2020 Jun-Jun;38(11-12):1248-1258. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2020.1768636. Epub 2020 May 31.
Authors: Elise Berber, Scott McLean, Vanessa Beanland, Gemma J M Read, Paul M Salmon
Summary: Talent identification and development programmes that retain and develop athletes are integral to the sporting success of National Governing Bodies in football. Currently, player attributes are studied in isolation without considering the complexity of interacting components of football performance. The current study applied a systems analysis framework to describe, in a structured and systematic way, the attributes for specific playing positions in football match-play. Eight high-level football coaches were interviewed. Models of the interacting attributes were developed for each position using Work Domain Analysis (WDA). Six WDA models detail the attributes associated with each playing position. The models identified purposes of playing positions (restrict opposition actions, organise and coordinate, building up of offence, goal scoring and stretch opposition), performance-related measures and the functions required to achieve the playing position purposes (game play, psychological functions, time and space and player actions). Critically, the relationships between the purposes, measures, functions, processes, and objects are described in the models. The WDA models describe the interacting attributes of different playing positions in football match-play. The findings demonstrate football performance is complex, consisting of multiple interacting and dynamic components. Implications to support coaches in talent identification and development are discussed.
#4 Using global navigation satellite systems for modeling athletic performances in elite football players
Reference: Sci Rep. 2022 Sep 8;12(1):15229. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-19484-y.
Authors: Frank Imbach, Waleed Ragheb, Valentin Leveau, Romain Chailan, Robin Candau, Stephane Perrey
Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9458673/pdf/41598_2022_Article_19484.pdf
Summary: This study aims to predict individual Acceleration-Velocity profiles (A-V) from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements in real-world situations. Data were collected from professional players in the Superleague division during a 1.5 season period (2019-2021). A baseline modeling performance was provided by time-series forecasting methods and compared with two multivariate modeling approaches using ridge regularisation and long short term memory neural networks. The multivariate models considered commercial features and new features extracted from GNSS raw data as predictor variables. A control condition in which profiles were predicted from predictors of the same session outlined the predictability of A-V profiles. Multivariate models were fitted either per player or over the group of players. Predictor variables were pooled according to the mean or an exponential weighting function. As expected, the control condition provided lower error rates than other models on average (p = 0.001). Reference and multivariate models did not show significant differences in error rates (p = 0.124), regardless of the nature of predictors (commercial features or extracted from signal processing methods) or the pooling method used. In addition, models built over a larger population did not provide significantly more accurate predictions. In conclusion, GNSS features seemed to be of limited relevance for predicting individual A-V profiles. However, new signal processing features open up new perspectives in athletic performance or injury occurrence modeling, mainly if higher sampling rate tracking systems are considered.
#5 Relationships between Functional Movement Quality and Sprint and Jump Performance in Female Youth Soccer Athletes of Team China
Reference: Children (Basel). 2022 Aug 29;9(9):1312. doi: 10.3390/children9091312.
Authors: Junjie Zhang, Junlei Lin, Hongwen Wei, Haiyuan Liu
Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9497205/pdf/children-09-01312.pdf
Summary: This study aimed to determine the optimal functional movement screen (FMS) cut score for assessing the risk of sport injury, and to investigate the correlations between functional movement quality and sprint and jump performance. Twenty-four (N = 24) athletes performed all tests in one day at 10-30 min intervals, and the FMS test was performed first, without a warm-up session. After a standard warm-up, athletes then completed the Y-balance Test (YBT), sprint, counter-movement jump (CMJ), and standing long jump (SLJ), in turn. For each test, the best of three attempts was recorded for further analysis. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area-under-the-curve (AUC) were used to determine the optimal FMS cut score for assessing the risk of sport injuries, and Spearman's rank correlation analysis was used to quantify associations between functional movement scores and athletic performance. The average FMS score was 16.2 and the optimal FMS cut score for assessing the risk of sport injuries was 14.5. There were moderate relationships between total FMS score and 10-20 m sprint time (r = -0.46, p < 0.05), between In-line Lunge and 0-20 m sprint time (r = -0.47, p < 0.05), between Shoulder Mobility and 0-10 m sprint time (r = -0.48, p < 0.05), and between Trunk-stability Push-up and 10-20 m sprint time (r = -0.47, p < 0.05). Moreover, Hurdle Step score was largely correlated with 0-10 m time (r = -0.51, p < 0.05). For Y-balance, moderate correlations were observed between CMJ height and anterior asymmetry score (r = -0.47, p < 0.05) and posteromedial asymmetry score (r = -0.44, p < 0.05). However, there were no significant associations between YBT performance (asymmetric in three directions and composite score) and sprint performance (p > 0.05). Taken together, the results indicate that a FMS score of 14 is not a gold standard for assessing the risk of injury in all populations; we recommend that the FMS cut score of 14.5 should be the optimal score for assessing risk of injury in young female elite soccer players. Moreover, the FMS and YBT were introduced to assess the quality of functional movements, and they cannot be used to assess sprint and jump performance. Practitioners can use components of the FMS that have similar characteristics to specific sports to assess athletic performance.
#6 Self-Report versus Neuropsychological Tests for Examining Executive Functions in Youth Soccer Athletes-A Cross-Sectional Study
Reference: Behav Sci (Basel). 2022 Sep 19;12(9):346. doi: 10.3390/bs12090346.
Authors: Florian Heilmann
Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9495998/pdf/behavsci-12-00346.pdf
Summary: Cognitive diagnostics, especially the measurement of executive functions (EFs) in the context of sports and talent diagnostics, is a popular research topic. However, research is lacking on how self-reports are sufficient to examine the EFs of youth athletes for performance diagnostics. Thus, the current study aims to evaluate the relationships between neuropsychological tasks (3-back task, cued Go/NoGo task, flanker task, and number-letter task) and a self-report for examining EFs (BRIEF-SB). Furthermore, it should be investigated whether it is possible to predict the outcome of EF tasks using a self-report inventory. Therefore, 68 young professional soccer players (Mage = 14.26 ± 1.35 years) from a national youth academy were included in the study. The weak-to-moderate correlations (r = 0.000, p = 0.999 to r = -0.442, p < 0.01) and the results of sensitivity analysis (0.125 to 0.538) do not support using a self-report of EFs for cognitive performance diagnostics. The inventory is only suitable for identifying executive dysfunctions in athletes recovering from head injuries or concussions.
#7 Design and Reliability of an Observational Framework to Evaluate the Individual Offensive Behavior in Youth Soccer-The INDISOC Tool
Reference: Children (Basel). 2022 Aug 29;9(9):1311. doi: 10.3390/children9091311.
Authors: Joaquín González-Rodenas, Iván Villa, Andrés Tudela-Desantes, Rodrigo Aranda-Malavés, Rafael Aranda
Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9498020/pdf/children-09-01311.pdf
Summary: Despite the great development of match analysis in professional soccer during the last decade, very few studies have assessed the individual technical and tactical behaviors of youth soccer players. The purpose of this paper was to design and assess the reliability of an observational instrument to evaluate the INDIvidual offensive behavior in competitive 7 and 11-a-side SOCcer (INDISOC). A total of eight experts in soccer training and analysis were included in the design of the tool by means of meetings and exploratory observations. This process involved design and re-design steps of the INDISOC tool to its final format which includes twelve dimensions related to the spatial, technical, and tactical constraints of individual behavior in soccer. The unit of analysis was the individual ball possession (IBP), described as the time that starts when a player can perform an action with the ball, and which ends when the IBP for another player begins. In the INDISOC tool, the IBP is analyzed taking into account three temporal moments: (1) receiving the ball, (2) processing the ball, and (3) culminating the individual action. Inter-observer and intra-observer analyses were performed and the kappa (K) coefficients were calculated to test the instrument reliability. The K values showed optimal inter (7-a-side: 0.73-0.95; 11-a-side: 0.76-0.98) and intra-observer (7-a-side: 0.84-1;11-a-side: 0.79-1) reliability levels. These results support the notion that the INDISOC observational tool could be a suitable instrument for analyzing the individual offensive behavior in competitive youth (7-a-side), junior and senior (11-a-side) soccer.
#8 Acute Obturator Externus Injury in Professional Soccer Players: A Case Series
Reference: Medicina (Kaunas). 2022 Aug 23;58(9):1145. doi: 10.3390/medicina58091145.
Authors: Hye Chang Rhim, Ashley E Gureck, Ki-Mo Jang
Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9504638/pdf/medicina-58-01145.pdf
Summary: When patients present with hip or groin pain, proximal quadriceps or adductor injuries are often initially suspected. In this case report, however, we present three cases of professional soccer players who were found to have obturator externus injury. A 30-year-old player and a 24-year-old player complained of pain in the left side after long distance shooting during an in-season training session and a match, respectively. Another 24-year-old player complained of pain in the right side after long distance passing during a preseason training session. On physical examination, active hip external rotation and passive hip internal rotation and extension elicited pain in all three players. All three players underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which found obturator externus grade II injuries for two players and grade I injury for one player. Rehabilitation protocols included relative rest, cryotherapy, and electrotherapy over a period of one week. All patients were able to return to play after 10 days. Correct identification of obturator externus injury afforded our players a favorable prognosis and a relatively quick return-to-sport compared with quadricep or adductor injury.
#9 Effects of Dietary Intervention and Education on Selected Biochemical Parameters and Nutritional Habits of Young Soccer Players
Reference: Nutrients. 2022 Sep 6;14(18):3681. doi: 10.3390/nu14183681.
Authors: Monika Grabia, Renata Markiewicz-Żukowska, Joanna Bielecka, Anna Puścion-Jakubik, Katarzyna Socha
Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9501504/pdf/nutrients-14-03681.pdf
Summary: In adolescence, the body requires sufficient amounts of adequate nutrients. This is especially important in the case of young athletes, for whom a nutrition plan should be as significant as a proper training plan. The aim of the study was a 17-week follow-up of the effects of individual and group nutrition intervention on changes in eating habits and selected biochemical parameters. 46 young soccer players aged 12-17 from the Soccer Academy in Northeastern Poland completed the study. One group received only individual recommendations, while the other additionally received group nutrition education. As a result of the dietary education, teenagers from the latter group consumed less saccharose (44 g vs. 39.2 g) in favor of digestible carbohydrates (266 g vs. 273 g) and dietary fiber (19.7 g vs. 22.2 g), further emphasizing the health-promoting profile of diets. The amount of fluid consumed (33% vs. 48% above 2 L of water a day) and the habits of the peri-workout hydration routine were also improved. Many of the participants (41%) reported faster regeneration while 26% experienced an overall better well-being. The short-term intervention produced positive results, but nevertheless it is the implementation of long-term dietary improvement schemes involving parents and coaches that should be the direction of future approaches.
#10 Can the Supido Radar Be Used for Measuring Ball Speed during Soccer Kicking? A Reliability and Concurrent Validity Study of a New Low-Cost Device
Reference: Sensors (Basel). 2022 Sep 17;22(18):7046. doi: 10.3390/s22187046.
Authors: David M Díez-Fernández, David Rodríguez-Rosell, Federico Gazzo, Julián Giráldez, Rodrigo Villaseca-Vicuña, Jose A Gonzalez-Jurado
Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9505007/pdf/sensors-22-07046.pdf
Summary: The aim was to analyze the reliability and validity of a low-cost instrument, based on a radar system, to quantify the kicking ball speed in soccer. A group of 153 male soccer players (under-13, n = 53; under-15, n = 54; under-18, n = 46) participated in this study. Each player performed three kicks on the goal in a standardized condition while the ball speed was measured with three different devices: one Radar Stalker ATS II® (reference criterion) and two Supido Radar® (Supido-front of the goal and Supido-back of the goal). The standard error of measurement (SEM) expressed as a coefficient of variation (CV) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were employed for assessing the reliability of each instrument. Stalker and Supido-back showed very high absolute (CV = 4.0-5.4%) and relative (ICC = 0.945-0.958) reliability, whereas Supido-front resulted in moderate to low reliability scores (CV = 7.4-15%, ICC = 0.134-0.693). In addition, Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) values revealed an 'almost perfect' agreement between Stalker and Supido-back for the average (r = 0.99) and maximal (r = 0.98) ball speed, regardless of the ball speed range analyzed. However, Supido-front resulted in a poor degree of concordance (CCC = 0.688) and a high magnitude of error (17.0-37.5 km·h-1) with the reference Stalker radar gun. The Supido Radar® placed behind the goal could be considered a reliable and valid device for measuring ball speed in soccer.
#11 The Immunological and Hormonal Responses to Competitive Match-Play in Elite Soccer Players
Reference: Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 18;19(18):11784. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191811784.
Authors: Ryland Morgans, Patrick Orme, Eduard Bezuglov, Rocco Di Michele, Alexandre Moreira
Download link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/18/11784/htm
Summary: This study aimed to examine the salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) and salivary cortisol (s-Cort) responses to competitive matches in elite male soccer players. Data were collected for 19 players (mean ± SD, age: 26 ± 4 years; weight: 80.5 ± 8.1 kg; height: 1.83 ± 0.07 m; body-fat 10.8 ± 0.7%) from a Russian Premier League team throughout a 6-week period during the 2021-2022 season. Physical match loads were measured through an optical tracking system. s-IgA and s-Cort were assessed one day before each match (MD - 1), 60-min before kick-off, 30-min post-match, and 48-h post-match (MD + 2). At 60-min before kick-off, s-IgA values were lower than at MD - 1 (90% CI difference 15.7-71.3 μg/mL). Additionally, compared to 60-min before kick-off, s-IgA was higher at 30-min post-match (90% CI difference 1.8-57.8 μg/mL) and at MD + 2 (90% CI difference 5.4-60.5 μg/mL). At 30-min post-match, s-Cort was higher than at 60-min before kick-off (90% CI difference 4.84-7.86 ng/mL), while on MD + 2 s-Cort was higher than at 60-min before kick-off (90% CI difference 0.76-3.72 ng/mL). Mixed model regressions revealed that longer playing time and total distance covered, and higher number of high-intensity accelerations, involved smaller s-IgA differences between 30-min post-match and 60-min before kick-off, and between 60-min before kick-off and MD + 2. Additionally, greater high-intensity and sprint distances, and a higher number of high-intensity and maximal accelerations, involved smaller s-Cort differences between 60-min before kick-off and MD + 2. In conclusion, the present results demonstrate that using salivary monitoring combined with match load may be a useful tool to monitor individual mucosal immunity and hormonal responses to match-play and the subsequent recovery periods in elite soccer players.
#12 Does the Number of Substitutions Used during the Matches Affect the Recovery Status and the Physical and Technical Performance of Elite Women's Soccer?
Reference: Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 14;19(18):11541. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191811541.
Authors: Ronaldo Kobal, Rodrigo Aquino, Leonardo Carvalho, Adriano Serra, Rafaela Sander, Natan Gomes, Vinicius Concon, Guilherme Passos Ramos, Renato Barroso
Download link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/18/11541/htm
Summary: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of a new rule for substitutions (four and five) with the rule before the COVID-19 pandemic (up to three) on recovery status, physical and technical performance, internal workload, and recovery process in elite women soccer players. Thirty-eight matches from 2019 to 2020 from the Brazilian Championships were analyzed. All data for the two conditions (≤3 and 4-5 substitutions) were compared using an independent t-test. The physical demands measured by a global positioning system (GPS) and the technical (obtained from Instat) and internal workload (rating of perceived exertion [RPE]) were assessed. The recovery process was measured by the total quality recovery (TQR) 24 h after each match. No differences were observed in any physical and technical parameters between 4-5 and ≤3 substitutions (p > 0.05). Moreover, 4-5 substitutions demonstrated lower RPE (p < 0.001) and workload-RPE (p < 0.001), higher TQR (p = 0.008), and lower time played by the player (p < 0.001), compared to ≤3. Thus, the new provisory rule for substitutions improved the balance between stress and recovery.
#13 Effects of Eight-Week Circuit Training with Core Exercises on Performance in Adult Male Soccer Players
Reference: Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ. 2022 Sep 1;12(9):1244-1256. doi: 10.3390/ejihpe12090086.
Authors: Guido Belli, Sofia Marini, Mario Mauro, Pasqualino Maietta Latessa, Stefania Toselli
Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9497503/pdf/ejihpe-12-00086.pdf
Summary: Core exercises have been widely promoted in the last 25 years. However, the scientific debate about its efficacy for improving individual and team sports performance is still open. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the effects of circuit training with a core exercise program on physical performance in competitive amateur soccer players. The training was conducted during the off-season period, two times per week for 8 weeks. Pre- and post-evaluations were conducted using the following tests: Y-Balance Test (YB), standing long jump (SLJ), medicine ball chest press (MBC), curl-up (CU), and Illinois Agility Test (IAT). A total of 19 adults were divided into an experimental group (EG, n = 11, age 22 years, weight 71.2 ± 4.8 kg, height 174 ± 5.8 cm) and a control group (CG, n = 8, age 22 years, weight 73.2 ± 4.1 Kg, height 176 ± 6.3 cm). The EG showed significant improvements in lower and upper body strength, core endurance and balance, whereas the CG did not report significant changes in the pre- and post-test comparison. Despite study limitations, our positive results show that circuit training with core exercises appears to be a good strategy for performance improvement in adult soccer players.
#14 Analysis of the Association between Internal and External Training Load Indicators in Elite Soccer; Multiple Regression Study
Reference: Sports (Basel). 2022 Sep 6;10(9):135. doi: 10.3390/sports10090135.
Authors: Sime Versic, Toni Modric, Borko Katanic, Mario Jelicic, Damir Sekulic
Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9501017/pdf/sports-10-00135.pdf
Summary: The aim of this study was to identify the external training load (ETL) variables that are most influential on the session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) during elite soccer training. The participants (n = 29) were adult male soccer players from a single team that competed in Croatia's highest national soccer competition in the 2021/2022 season. Data were collected using the 10 Hz Global Positioning System from 66 training sessions, and a total of 1061 training observations were undertaken. The univariate and multivariate relationships among the predictors (ETL variables) and the criterion (sRPE) were assessed using forward stepwise multiple regressions and Pearson's correlations, respectively. ETL variables explained 63% of the variance in the sRPE (Multiple R = 0.79; p < 0.01), and the model was successfully cross-validated. The significant partial regressors were total distance (β = 0.66), metres per minute (β = -0.47), high-intensity accelerations (β = 0.22) and decelerations (β = 0.18), and sprint distance (β = 0.14). All ETL variables were significantly correlated with the sRPE (all p < 0.01), with the highest correlations found for total distance covered (r = 0.70) and high-intensity accelerations and decelerations (r = 0.62 and 0.65, respectively). Such results show that (i) the total distance and acceleration rates during the training sessions are the most important predictors of the sRPE, and (ii) a combination of different ETL variables predicts the sRPE better than any individual parameter alone. This study shows that both the volume and intensity of training are related to players' internal responses. The findings ultimately provide further evidence to support the use of sRPE as a global measure of training load in soccer players.
#15 Muscle injury characteristics and incidence rates in men's amateur soccer: A one season prospective study
Reference: Res Sports Med. 2022 Sep 19;1-14. doi: 10.1080/15438627.2022.2122827. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Afxentios Kekelekis, Filipe Manuel Clemente, Eleftherios Kellis
Summary: The objectives of the study were to examine the incident rate (IR), characteristics, and mechanisms of muscle injuries of 121 men amateur soccer players that voluntarily participated in this project. Sixty-five muscle injuries with an overall IR of 3.62/1000 h, 95% CI 2.7-4.5, were reported. The most frequently injured muscle groups were the hamstrings (IR 1.78/1000 h, 95% CI 1.1-2.3), followed by the adductors (IR 1.5/1000 h, 95% CI 0.93-2.06). Most muscle injuries were characterized as mild (IR 2.3/1000 h, 95% CI 1.53-2.92) or minimal (IR 1.28/1000 h, 95% CI 1.16-2.39. Higher incidence of injury sustained during matches (IR 14.09 injuries/1000 h, 95% CI 9.49-18.7), than in training (IR 1.88 injuries/1000 h, 95% CI 1.19-2.56). The most frequent injury mechanisms were high-speed running (84.4%) and change of direction (44.4%), for hamstring and adductors-related groin injuries, respectively. Players aged over 24 years had a 7-fold increased risk to sustain a hamstring injury but a lower risk to sustain an adductor-related groin injury. Injury prevention and rehabilitation management strategies may reduce muscle injury rates in amateur soccer.
#16 Postural balance asymmetry and subsequent noncontact lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries among Tunisian soccer players with groin pain: A prospective case control study
Reference: Gait Posture. 2022 Sep 9;98:134-140. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2022.09.004. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Fatma Chaari, Sébastien Boyas, Sonia Sahli, Thouraya Fendri, Mohammed A Harrabi, Haithem Rebai, Abderrahmane Rahmani
Summary: Recent studies reported postural balance disorders in patients and soccer players with groin pain (GP) compared to controls. Since postural balance asymmetry identified after an initial injury contributes for subsequent injuries, identification of this asymmetry in soccer players with GP may highlight the risk of sustaining subsequent noncontact lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries in these players. Therefore, the aims of this study were to (i) examine static and dynamic unipedal postural balance asymmetry in soccer players with GP compared to healthy ones, and (ii) quantify the risk of subsequent noncontact lower extremity injuries in these players. Do soccer players with GP exhibit higher static and dynamic unipedal postural balance asymmetry, and higher risk of sustaining subsequent injuries compared to controls? In this prospective case control study, 27 soccer players with non-time loss GP (GP group: GPG), and 27 healthy ones (control group: CG) were enrolled. Static and dynamic unipedal postural balance asymmetry were evaluated with a force platform using symmetry index (SI), and Y-balance test (Y-BT), respectively. Additionally, subsequent noncontact lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries were tracked for 10 months. The GPG revealed higher (p < 0.01) SI in eyes closed condition, higher (p < 0.001) side-to-side asymmetry in anterior, posteromedial and posterolateral reach distances and in composite Y-BT score compared to CG. They showed lower (p < 0.001) composite score for injured limb and higher (p < 0.001) side-to-side asymmetry in posteromedial reach distance compared to the cut-off values of 89.6 % and 4 cm, respectively. Moreover, GPG exhibited higher odds (OR= 7.48; 95 % CI = 2.15, 26.00; p < 0.01) of sustaining subsequent injuries compared to CG. The Y-BT should be instituted into existing pre-participation physical examinations to screen for soccer players with non-time loss GP at an elevated risk of sustaining subsequent injuries. This could help coaches and clinicians make valid return to play decisions.
#17 The British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification grading system as a predictor of return to play following hamstrings injury in professional football players
Reference: Phys Ther Sport. 2022 Sep 7;58:46-51. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2022.08.002. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Craig Tears, Glen Rae, Geoff Hide, Raj Sinha, John Franklin, Peter Brand, Farah Hasan, Paul Chesterton
Summary: Investigate the British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification (BAMIC) grading system as a predictor of return to play (RTP) following primary hamstring strain injury (HSI) and its agreement with the Peetron's classification system in professional footballers. A retrospective cohort study of 39 hamstrings strains in a professional English football club were identified. Two musculoskeletal radiologists reviewed historical MRI's and classified them against the BAMIC and Peetron's grading system. Classification, oedema length and cross-sectional area were compared against RTP. Pearson's correlation coefficient demonstrated a weak but statistically significant correlation between BAMIC and RTP (r = 0.32; 95%CI 0.01 to 0.58; p = 0.05). Maximum length of intramuscular oedema demonstrated weak correlations with RTP (r = 0.3; 95%CI -0.02 to 0.56; p = 0.06). Percentage cross sectional demonstrated a weak correlation with RTP (r = 0.02; 95%CI -0.3 to 0.33; p = 0.91). Multiple regression demonstrated that 16% of the variance in RTP was explained by the model. Kappa for the agreement between BAMIC and Peetron's was 0.21 (95%CI 0 to 0.42). A significant association between the grade of HSI on the BAMIC system and RTP was found. Findings suggest BAMIC could provide valuable prognostic information on the RTP.
#18 Analysis of Injury Patterns in Men's Football between the English League and the Spanish League
Reference: Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 8;19(18):11296. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191811296.
Authors: Juan Carlos Argibay-González, Christopher Vázquez-Estévez, Alfonso Gutiérrez-Santiago, Adrián Paramés-González, Xoana Reguera-López-de-la-Osa, Iván Prieto-Lage
Download link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/18/11296/htm
Summary: Injuries in professional football lead to reduced team performance and large financial losses. The aim of this study was to analyse injuries in the two best team competitions in the world (LaLiga and Premier League), establishing similarities and differences, as well as determining injury causation patterns. A total of 277 on-field injuries requiring a substitution were analysed (142 in the Spanish league and 135 in the English league). The analysis was performed using traditional statistical tests (frequency analysis, chi-square test) with SPSS 25 and a T-Patterns sequence analysis with THEME 5.0. In the Spanish league, there were a similar number of injuries in the first part of the season as in the second part of the season, while in the English league, they are more frequent in the first part of the season. In the Spanish league, injuries are more frequent in the first half of the match, while in the English league, they are more frequent in the second half. The type of player most frequently injured was the defender. Most of the injuries occurred without the presence of an opponent. The accumulated minutes during the season affect injuries of the muscular type. The most common type of injury in both leagues was a strain, followed by a sprain and a contusion. Although common injury patterns can be established between the two leagues, there are notable differences. One of the factors is determined by the English league calendar (many matches at Christmas). In Spain, there were more muscular injuries that were not caused by the opponent, while in England there were more tackling injuries. Age is a risk factor in the Spanish league. In this league, there is a moderately significant relationship between the number of injuries and the points won.
#19 Association of the ACTN3 rs1815739 Polymorphism with Physical Performance and Injury Incidence in Professional Women Football Players
Reference: Genes (Basel). 2022 Sep 12;13(9):1635. doi: 10.3390/genes13091635.
Authors: Juan Del Coso, Gil Rodas, Miguel Ángel Buil, Javier Sánchez-Sánchez, Pedro López, Joaquín González-Ródenas, Pablo Gasulla-Anglés, Álvaro López-Samanes, Sergio Hernández-Sánchez, Ane Iztueta, Víctor Moreno-Pérez
Summary: The p.R577X polymorphism (rs1815739) in the ACTN3 gene causes individuals with the XX genotype to be deficient in functional α-actinin-3. Previous investigations have found that XX athletes are more prone to suffer non-contact muscle injuries, in comparison with RR and RX athletes who produce a functional α-actinin-3 in their fast-twitch fibers. This investigation aimed to determine the influence of the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism on physical performance and injury incidence of players competing in the women's Spanish first division of football (soccer). Using a cross-sectional experiment, football-specific performance and epidemiology of non-contact football-related injuries were recorded in a group of 191 professional football players. ACTN3 R577X genotype was obtained for each player using genomic DNA samples obtained through buccal swabs. A battery of physical tests, including a countermovement jump, a 20 m sprint test, the sit-and-reach test and ankle dorsiflexion, were performed during the preseason. Injury incidence and characteristics of non-contact injuries were obtained according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) statement for one season. From the study sample, 28.3% of players had the RR genotype, 52.9% had the RX genotype, and 18.8% had the XX genotype. Differences among genotypes were identified with one-way analysis of variance (numerical variables) or chi-square tests (categorical variables). Jump height (p = 0.087), sprint time (p = 0.210), sit-and-reach distance (p = 0.361), and dorsiflexion in the right (p = 0.550) and left ankle (p = 0.992) were similar in RR, RX, and XX football players. A total of 356 non-contact injuries were recorded in 144 football players while the remaining 47 did not sustain any non-contact injuries during the season. Injury incidence was 10.4 ± 8.6, 8.2 ± 5.7, and 8.9 ± 5.3 injuries per/1000 h of football exposure, without differences among genotypes (p = 0.222). Injury rates during training (from 3.6 ± 3.7 to 4.8 ± 2.1 injuries per/1000 h of training exposure, p = 0.100) and match (from 47.8 ± 9.5 to 54.1 ± 6.3 injuries per/1000 h of match exposure, p = 0.209) were also similar in RR, RX, and XX football players. The ACTN3 genotype did not affect the mode of onset, the time needed to return to play, the type of injury, or the distribution of body locations of the injuries. In summary, women football players with different genotypes of the p.R577X ACTN3 polymorphism had similar values of football-specific performance and injury incidence. From a practical perspective, the ACTN3 genotyping may not be useful to predict performance or injury incidence in professional women football players.
