Abstract
Background: In elite football, periodic health examination (PHE) may be useful for injury risk prediction.
Objective: To explore whether PHE-derived variables are prognostic factors for indirect muscle injuries (IMIs) in elite players.
Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Setting: An English Premier League football club.
Participants: 134 outfield elite male players, over 5 seasons (1 July 2013–19 May 2018).
Outcome and analysis: The outcome was any time-loss, lower extremity index IMI (I-IMI). Prognostic associations were estimated using odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding statistical significance for 36 variables, derived from univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. Missing data were handled using multiple imputation. Non-linear associations were explored using fractional polynomials.
Results: During 317 participant-seasons, 138 I-IMIs were recorded. Univariable associations were determined for previous calf IMI frequency (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.97), hamstring IMI frequency (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.09), if the most recent hamstring IMI occurred >12 months but 12 months but
Conclusion: PHE has limited use for injury risk prediction. Most variables did not add prognostic value over and above age, other than if a player experienced a hamstring IMI >12 months but
Trial registration number: NCT03782389.
Objective: To explore whether PHE-derived variables are prognostic factors for indirect muscle injuries (IMIs) in elite players.
Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Setting: An English Premier League football club.
Participants: 134 outfield elite male players, over 5 seasons (1 July 2013–19 May 2018).
Outcome and analysis: The outcome was any time-loss, lower extremity index IMI (I-IMI). Prognostic associations were estimated using odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding statistical significance for 36 variables, derived from univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. Missing data were handled using multiple imputation. Non-linear associations were explored using fractional polynomials.
Results: During 317 participant-seasons, 138 I-IMIs were recorded. Univariable associations were determined for previous calf IMI frequency (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.97), hamstring IMI frequency (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.09), if the most recent hamstring IMI occurred >12 months but 12 months but
Conclusion: PHE has limited use for injury risk prediction. Most variables did not add prognostic value over and above age, other than if a player experienced a hamstring IMI >12 months but
Trial registration number: NCT03782389.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e052772 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | BMJ open |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 24 Jan 2023 |