Elliott C R Hall1, Jon Larruskain2, Susana M Gil3, Josean A Lekue2, Philipp Baumert4, Edgardo Rienzi5, Sacha Moreno5, Marcio Tannure6, Conall F Murtagh7, Jack D Ade8, Paul Squires8, Patrick Orme9, Liam Anderson10, Craig M Whitworth-Turner1, James P Morton1, Barry Drust10, Alun G Williams11, Robert M Erskine12. 1. School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK. 2. Medical Services, Athletic Club, Lezama, Spain. 3. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain. 4. School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK; Department of Sport and Health Science, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany. 5. Club Atlético Peñarol, Estadio Campeón del Siglo, Montevideo, Uruguay. 6. Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, Rio de Janiero, Brazil. 7. School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK; Liverpool Football Club, Liverpool, UK. 8. Liverpool Football Club, Liverpool, UK. 9. Bristol City Football Club, Bristol, UK. 10. School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK. 11. Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport, Manchester Metroplitan University, Manchester, UK; Applied Sports Science Technology and Medicine Research Centre (A-STEM), Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, UK; Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, University College London, London, UK. 12. School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK; Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, University College London, London, UK. Electronic address: R.M.Erskine@ljmu.ac.uk.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate if maturity status was associated with injury risk in male academy soccer players. DESIGN: Prospective cohort surveillance study. SETTING: Professional soccer academies. PARTICIPANTS: 501 players (aged 9-23 years) from eight academies in England, Spain, Uruguay and Brazil. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Players were grouped by maturity offset as pre-peak height velocity (PHV), circa-PHV, post-PHV or adult. Injury prevalence proportion (IPP) and days missed were recorded for one season per player, with training/match exposure recorded in a sub-sample (n = 166). RESULTS: IPP for all injuries combined increased with advancing maturity, with circa-PHV (p = 0.032), post-PHV (p < 0.001) and adult (p < 0.001) higher than pre-PHV. IPP was higher in post-PHV and adult than pre-PHV for non-contact (p = 0.001 and p = 0.012), soft-tissue (both p < 0.001), non-contact soft-tissue (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005), muscle (both p < 0.001), thigh (both p < 0.001), ankle (p = 0.035 and p = 0.007) and hamstring injuries (p = 0.041 and p = 0.017). Ligament/tendon IPP was greater in adult versus pre-PHV (p = 0.002). IPP for growth-related injuries was lower in post-PHV than pre-PHV (p = 0.039). Injury incidence rates (n = 166) exhibited similar patterns to IPP in the full cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Injury patterns were similar between post-PHV and adult academy players but, crucially, relatively more of these groups suffered injuries compared to pre- and circa-PHV (except growth-related injuries).
OBJECTIVES: To investigate if maturity status was associated with injury risk in male academy soccer players. DESIGN: Prospective cohort surveillance study. SETTING: Professional soccer academies. PARTICIPANTS: 501 players (aged 9-23 years) from eight academies in England, Spain, Uruguay and Brazil. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Players were grouped by maturity offset as pre-peak height velocity (PHV), circa-PHV, post-PHV or adult. Injury prevalence proportion (IPP) and days missed were recorded for one season per player, with training/match exposure recorded in a sub-sample (n = 166). RESULTS: IPP for all injuries combined increased with advancing maturity, with circa-PHV (p = 0.032), post-PHV (p < 0.001) and adult (p < 0.001) higher than pre-PHV. IPP was higher in post-PHV and adult than pre-PHV for non-contact (p = 0.001 and p = 0.012), soft-tissue (both p < 0.001), non-contact soft-tissue (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005), muscle (both p < 0.001), thigh (both p < 0.001), ankle (p = 0.035 and p = 0.007) and hamstring injuries (p = 0.041 and p = 0.017). Ligament/tendon IPP was greater in adult versus pre-PHV (p = 0.002). IPP for growth-related injuries was lower in post-PHV than pre-PHV (p = 0.039). Injury incidence rates (n = 166) exhibited similar patterns to IPP in the full cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Injury patterns were similar between post-PHV and adult academy players but, crucially, relatively more of these groups suffered injuries compared to pre- and circa-PHV (except growth-related injuries).
Authors: Elliott C R Hall; Jon Larruskain; Susana M Gil; Josean A Lekue; Philipp Baumert; Edgardo Rienzi; Sacha Moreno; Marcio Tannure; Conall F Murtagh; Jack D Ade; Paul Squires; Patrick Orme; Liam Anderson; Craig M Whitworth-Turner; James P Morton; Barry Drust; Alun G Williams; Robert M Erskine Journal: J Athl Train Date: 2022-07-01 Impact factor: 3.824