Assessment of External Load During Matches in Two Consecutive Seasons Using the Mediacoach® Video Analysis System in a Spanish Professional Soccer Team: Implications for Injury Prevention.

Manuel Alcantarilla-Pedrosa,Sergio Hernández-Sánchez,David Álvarez-Santana,Angel Yañez-Álvarez,Manuel Albornoz-Cabello

doi:10.3390/ijerph18031128

Abstract

(1) Background: Knowledge of competition loads is a relevant aspect of injury prevention. We aimed to describe the training and match injury incidence and physical demand variables observed during a competition using a multi-camera video analysis system (Mediacoach®) (LaLigaTM, Madrid, Spain) in a professional Spanish soccer team during two consecutive seasons. (2) Methods: 30 players (age: 26.07 ± 3.78 years) participated in the study. Physical variables of 74 matches were collected retrospectively. Injury characteristics of both seasons were also collected. Differences in these variables between the two seasons and by player position and correlations between variables were explored. (3) Results: There were statistically significant differences between the two seasons in the total distance traveled and the distance traveled at a high-intensity sprint (p < 0.05). During the two seasons, there was an average of 4.7 ± 2.2 injuries. The total distance traveled was different according to the playing position, and statistically significant correlations were found in the total distance and sprint at a high intensity for certain positions with different injury severity (4) Conclusions: The match performance data recorded by the Mediacoach® system may provide relevant information by player position to technical and medical staff for injury prevention.

Highlights

Soccer injuries have a major impact on the performance of both the player and the team due to the concerned player’s loss of training sessions and matches [1,2,3]
Distance traveled at high-intensity sprint (HIS) was 201.2 ± 112.2 m and distance traveled at low-intensity sprint (LIS) 221.3 ± 80.2 m
Performance and injury data showed asymmetric distribution and nonparametric tests were applied for analyzing differences between seasons and per player position

Summary

Introduction

Soccer injuries have a major impact on the performance of both the player and the team due to the concerned player’s loss of training sessions and matches [1,2,3]. A recent meta-analysis shows that the general incidence in male professional soccer players was 8.1 injuries/1000 h of exposure, not varying significantly between professional teams of different leagues and levels. This incidence was 10 times higher in matches than in training (36 injuries/1000 h in matches versus 3.7 injuries/1000 h in training) with the lower limb being the area that records more injuries (6.8 injuries/1000 h of exposure) and muscular/ligamentary being the most common injuries (4.6 injuries/1000 h of exposure) [6].

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