Negative Auswirkungen auf Leistung und Einsatzfähigkeit bei Sportlern mit erhöhter Spielanzahl – Ergebnisse der aktuellen UEFA-Verletzungsstudie

Abstract

Objective: To present some results from the on-going survey on male professional football players in Europe, the UEFA Champions League (UCL) injury study. Methods: A total of 27 clubs from ten countries and 1500 players have been followed prospectively during eleven seasons between 2001 and 2012. The design harmonizes with the FIFA-UEFA consensus statement on injury definitions and data collection procedures. Results: In total, 8000 time-loss injuries were recorded. The mean incidence of injury at top level football is 3-5 injuries per 1000 training hours and 25 per 1000 match hours. On average, a team of 25 players can expect about 50 injuries each season. The injury risk has not increased during the eleven year period. The injury risk varies between countries in Europe with a higher risk of ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries but less overall injury risk in countries with a Mediterranean climate. Hamstring muscle injury is the most common single injury Radiological grading by MRI or ultrasonography is associated with lay-off times. Seventy per cent of hamstring injuries seen in professional football are of radiological grade 0 or 1, meaning no fibre disruption on imaging but still cause the majority of absence days. Almost all male top level footballers with ACL injuries return to full football play, but it takes 6-7 months. Stress fractures are not common in footballers but take long time to heal. The injury risk is similar when playing on football turf as when playing on natural grass. Playing too many matches is negative for both performance and player availability