High-speed running and sprinting as an injury risk factor in soccer: Can well-developed physical qualities reduce the risk?

Shane Malone; Adam Owen; Bruno Mendes; Brian Hughes; Kieran Collins; Tim J Gabbett

doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2017.05.016

High-speed running and sprinting as an injury risk factor in soccer: Can well-developed physical qualities reduce the risk?

J Sci Med Sport. 2018 Mar;21(3):257-262. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.05.016. Epub 2017 May 25.

Authors

Shane Malone¹, Adam Owen², Bruno Mendes², Brian Hughes³, Kieran Collins³, Tim J Gabbett⁴

Affiliations

¹ Human Performance Lab, Institute of Technology Tallaght, Ireland; BenficaLAB, S.L. Benfica, Portugal. Electronic address: shane.malone@mymail.ittdublin.ie.
² BenficaLAB, S.L. Benfica, Portugal; Claude Bernard University Lyon, Centre de Recherche et d'Innovation sur le Sport (CRIS), France.
³ Human Performance Lab, Institute of Technology Tallaght, Ireland.
⁴ Gabbett Performance Solutions, Australia; University of Southern Queensland, Institute for Resilient Regions, Ipswich, Australia.

PMID: 28595870
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.05.016

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the association between high-speed running (HSR) and sprint running (SR) and injuries within elite soccer players. The impact of intermittent aerobic fitness as measured by the end speed of the 30-15 intermittent fitness test (30-15V_IFT) and high chronic workloads (average 21-day) as potential mediators of injury risk were also investigated.

Design: Observational Cohort Study.

Methods: 37 elite soccer players from one elite squad were involved in a one-season study. Training and game workloads (session-RPE×duration) were recorded in conjunction with external training loads (using global positioning system technology) to measure the HSR (>14.4kmh^-1) and SR (>19.8kmh^-1) distance covered across weekly periods during the season. Lower limb injuries were also recorded. Training load and GPS data were modelled against injury data using logistic regression. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated with 90% confidence intervals based on 21-day chronic training load status (sRPE), aerobic fitness, HSR and SR distance with these reported against a reference group.

Results: Players who completed moderate HSR (701-750-m: OR: 0.12, 90%CI: 0.08-0.94) and SR distances (201-350-m: OR: 0.54, 90%CI: 0.41-0.85) were at reduced injury risk compared to low HSR (≤674-m) and SR (≤165-m) reference groups. Injury risk was higher for players who experienced large weekly changes in HSR (351-455-m; OR: 3.02; 90%CI: 2.03-5.18) and SR distances (between 75-105-m; OR: 6.12, 90%CI: 4.66-8.29). Players who exerted higher chronic training loads (≥2584 AU) were at significantly reduced risk of injury when they covered 1-weekly HSR distances of 701-750m compared to the reference group of <674m (OR=0.65, 90% CI 0.27-0.89). When intermittent aerobic fitness was considered based on 30-15V_IFT performance, players with poor aerobic fitness had a greater risk of injury than players with better-developed aerobic fitness.

Conclusions: Exposing players to large and rapid increases in HSR and SR distances increased the odds of injury. However, higher chronic training loads (≥2584 AU) and better intermittent aerobic fitness off-set lower limb injury risk associated with these running distances in elite soccer players.

Keywords: Chronic training load; Injury risk; Injury-Workload Relationship; Odds ratio; Soccer.

Publication types

Observational Study

MeSH terms

Adult
Cohort Studies
Geographic Information Systems
Humans
Lower Extremity / injuries
Male
Odds Ratio
Physical Exertion / physiology*
Physical Fitness / physiology*
Risk Factors
Running / injuries*
Soccer / injuries*
Wearable Electronic Devices
Young Adult