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Int J Sports Med 2010; 31(3): 180-185
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1241212
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Physical Efforts on Injury in Elite Soccer

C. Carling1 , F. L. Gall2 , T. P. Reilly3
  • 1LOSC Lille Métropole Football Club, Youth Academy, Camphin-en-Pévèle, France
  • 2LOSC Lille Métropole Football Club, Medical Department, Lille, France
  • 3Liverpool John Moores University, RISES, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision August 27, 2009

Publication Date:
18 December 2009 (online)

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Abstract

In this study, the influence of physical efforts on occurrence of match injury in a professional soccer club was investigated. Computerised motion-analysis was used to measure the physical efforts of players during 10 injury situations. Total distance and those covered at different movement intensities were measured across the 5-min period preceding injury. If the final run preceding injury involved a high-intensity action (HIA), the distance, duration and speed of the effort and the recovery time between this and the penultimate HIA were measured. To determine the influence of these physical efforts, the results were compared to a normative profile for players computed from data across 5 games for the same variables; habitual distances covered over a 5-min period and characteristics of and recovery time between HIA. Compared to the normative profile, no differences were reported in physical characteristics during the period leading up to injury or for HIA although the latter were substantially higher in intensity (duration and distance). A lower than normal recovery time between HIA prior to injury was observed (35.6±16.8 s vs. 98.8±17.5 s, p=0.003). Within the limitations of the small sample, these findings may aid in further understanding injury and physical performance in elite soccer.

Key words

injuries - motion analysis - football incident analysis - fatigue

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Correspondence

Christopher Carling

LOSC Lille Métropole

Football Club

Youth Academy

Domain de Luchin

59780 Camphin-en-Pévèle

France

Phone: +33603921863

Fax: +33148910793

Email: chris.carling@free.fr