The Influence of Match Congestion, Load and Wellness on Injury Risk in Collegiate Men's Soccer

Abstract

The impact of match congestion, training load (TL), perceived stress, fatigue and soreness on the odds of injury remains unclear. PURPOSE: To examine the influence of: 1) days rest between matches on injury rate (IR) and odds of injury and; 2) TL on injury, perceived stress, fatigue and soreness. METHODS: A prospective multi-site study tracked daily exposures, TL (distance and duration), injury and perceptual data from six Division I NCAA men’s soccer teams in one season. Overall and non-contact (NC) IRs expressed per 1000 athlete exposures (AEs), and odds ratios (OR) were determined by days before and after matches. Associations between injury and changes in both TL and perception were analyzed using a multilevel logistic regression. RESULTS: 132 players experienced 116 injuries in 125 matches and 75 injuries in 301 practices. Overall match and practice IRs (per 1000AEs [95%CI]) were 47.9 [39.1, 56.6] and 12.7 [9.8, 15.5], respectively. Match IRs [range = 0.0 to 57.9] were highest 1 to 5 days [range = 1 to 12] from the last match. While insignificant (p > 0.21), match IRs were highest 3 days between matches (IR= 57.9 [39.0, 76.8]). Players were at increased odds of being injured in a match with 1 to 5 days since the last match vs. 6+ days (OR [95%CI] = 1.85 [1.10, 3.12]). Practice IRs were highest in the preseason (IR = 26.8 [13.2, 40.3]). Players were at increased odds of be injured in practice 3 and 4 days before vs. 1 day before (OR= 6.19 [3.03, 12.66] and 3.89 [1.92, 7.88]). Players were at increased odds (p < 0.001) of feeling fatigue (> 5) (OR= 7.04 [3.75, 13.21]) and soreness (>5) (OR= 4.00 (2.17, 7.37]) in practice with 1 vs. 6 days since the last game. For each additional 3500m covered on a day, odds of NC injury, stress, soreness and fatigue increased (OR = 1.70 [1.38, 2.10], 1.16 [1.02, 1.31], 1.55 [1.40, 1.72], 1.69 [1.52, 1.89]), respectively. For each additional hour of activity on a day, odds of NC injury, stress, soreness and fatigue increased (1.83 [1.59, 2.12], 1.08 [0.97, 1.20], 1.28 [1.17, 1.39], 1.34 [1.22, 1.47], respectively. CONCLUSION: Days between matches and acute TL increases on a given day had a negative impact on odds of injury and perception. The odds of getting injured in a match were greater with 1 to 5 days vs. 6+ days between matches. These data may be used to inform and guide the NCAA in determining optimal scheduling and recovery.