Injury risk is greater in physically mature versus biologically younger male soccer players from academies in different countries

Elliott C.R. Hall; Jon Larruskain; Susana M. Gil; Josean A. Lekue; Philipp Baumert; Edgardo Rienzi; Sacha Moreno; Marcio Tannure; Conall F. Murtagh; Jack D. Ade; Paul Squires; Patrick Orme; Liam Anderson; Craig M. Whitworth-Turner; James P. Morton; Barry Drust; Alun G. Williams; Robert M. Erskine

doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2022.03.006

Injury risk is greater in physically mature versus biologically younger male soccer players from academies in different countries

Elliott C.R. Hall, Jon Larruskain, Susana M. Gil, Josean A. Lekue, Philipp Baumert, Edgardo Rienzi, Sacha Moreno, Marcio Tannure, Conall F. Murtagh, Jack D. Ade, Paul Squires, Patrick Orme, Liam Anderson, Craig M. Whitworth-Turner, James P. Morton, Barry Drust, Alun G. Williams, Robert M. Erskine^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Objectives: To investigate if maturity status was associated with injury risk in male academy soccer players.

Design: Prospective cohort surveillance study.

Setting: Professional soccer academies.

Participants: 501 players (aged 9–23 years) from eight academies in England, Spain, Uruguay and Brazil.

Main outcome measures: Players were grouped by maturity offset as pre-peak height velocity (PHV), circa-PHV, post-PHV or adult. Injury prevalence proportion (IPP) and days missed were recorded for one season per player, with training/match exposure recorded in a sub-sample (n = 166).

Results: IPP for all injuries combined increased with advancing maturity, with circa-PHV (p = 0.032), post-PHV (p < 0.001) and adult (p < 0.001) higher than pre-PHV. IPP was higher in post-PHV and adult than pre-PHV for non-contact (p = 0.001 and p = 0.012), soft-tissue (both p < 0.001), non-contact soft-tissue (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005), muscle (both p < 0.001), thigh (both p < 0.001), ankle (p = 0.035 and p = 0.007) and hamstring injuries (p = 0.041 and p = 0.017). Ligament/tendon IPP was greater in adult versus pre-PHV (p = 0.002). IPP for growth-related injuries was lower in post-PHV than pre-PHV (p = 0.039). Injury incidence rates (n = 166) exhibited similar patterns to IPP in the full cohort.

Conclusions: Injury patterns were similar between post-PHV and adult academy players but, crucially, relatively more of these groups suffered injuries compared to pre- and circa-PHV (except growth-related injuries).

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	111-118
Number of pages	8
Journal	Physical Therapy in Sport
Volume	55
Early online date	17 Mar 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2022.03.006
Publication status	Published - May 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors declare no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise, related to the preparation of this manuscript. This study was funded as part of a University PhD scholarship.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd

Keywords

Adolescence
Football
Maturation
Maturity
Peak height velocity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

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Hall, E. C. R., Larruskain, J., Gil, S. M., Lekue, J. A., Baumert, P., Rienzi, E., Moreno, S., Tannure, M., Murtagh, C. F., Ade, J. D., Squires, P., Orme, P., Anderson, L., Whitworth-Turner, C. M., Morton, J. P., Drust, B., Williams, A. G., & Erskine, R. M. (2022). Injury risk is greater in physically mature versus biologically younger male soccer players from academies in different countries. Physical Therapy in Sport, 55, 111-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2022.03.006

@article{fe26760c360b4ff4a4b118059b89a19b,

title = "Injury risk is greater in physically mature versus biologically younger male soccer players from academies in different countries",

abstract = "Objectives: To investigate if maturity status was associated with injury risk in male academy soccer players. Design: Prospective cohort surveillance study. Setting: Professional soccer academies. Participants: 501 players (aged 9–23 years) from eight academies in England, Spain, Uruguay and Brazil. Main outcome measures: Players were grouped by maturity offset as pre-peak height velocity (PHV), circa-PHV, post-PHV or adult. Injury prevalence proportion (IPP) and days missed were recorded for one season per player, with training/match exposure recorded in a sub-sample (n = 166). Results: IPP for all injuries combined increased with advancing maturity, with circa-PHV (p = 0.032), post-PHV (p < 0.001) and adult (p < 0.001) higher than pre-PHV. IPP was higher in post-PHV and adult than pre-PHV for non-contact (p = 0.001 and p = 0.012), soft-tissue (both p < 0.001), non-contact soft-tissue (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005), muscle (both p < 0.001), thigh (both p < 0.001), ankle (p = 0.035 and p = 0.007) and hamstring injuries (p = 0.041 and p = 0.017). Ligament/tendon IPP was greater in adult versus pre-PHV (p = 0.002). IPP for growth-related injuries was lower in post-PHV than pre-PHV (p = 0.039). Injury incidence rates (n = 166) exhibited similar patterns to IPP in the full cohort. Conclusions: Injury patterns were similar between post-PHV and adult academy players but, crucially, relatively more of these groups suffered injuries compared to pre- and circa-PHV (except growth-related injuries).",

keywords = "Adolescence, Football, Maturation, Maturity, Peak height velocity",

author = "Hall, {Elliott C.R.} and Jon Larruskain and Gil, {Susana M.} and Lekue, {Josean A.} and Philipp Baumert and Edgardo Rienzi and Sacha Moreno and Marcio Tannure and Murtagh, {Conall F.} and Ade, {Jack D.} and Paul Squires and Patrick Orme and Liam Anderson and Whitworth-Turner, {Craig M.} and Morton, {James P.} and Barry Drust and Williams, {Alun G.} and Erskine, {Robert M.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors declare no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise, related to the preparation of this manuscript. This study was funded as part of a University PhD scholarship. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2022",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/j.ptsp.2022.03.006",

language = "English",

volume = "55",

pages = "111--118",

journal = "Physical Therapy in Sport",

issn = "1466-853X",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

Hall, ECR, Larruskain, J, Gil, SM, Lekue, JA, Baumert, P, Rienzi, E, Moreno, S, Tannure, M, Murtagh, CF, Ade, JD, Squires, P, Orme, P, Anderson, L, Whitworth-Turner, CM, Morton, JP, Drust, B, Williams, AG & Erskine, RM 2022, 'Injury risk is greater in physically mature versus biologically younger male soccer players from academies in different countries', Physical Therapy in Sport, vol. 55, pp. 111-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2022.03.006

TY - JOUR

T1 - Injury risk is greater in physically mature versus biologically younger male soccer players from academies in different countries

AU - Hall, Elliott C.R.

AU - Larruskain, Jon

AU - Gil, Susana M.

AU - Lekue, Josean A.

AU - Baumert, Philipp

AU - Rienzi, Edgardo

AU - Moreno, Sacha

AU - Tannure, Marcio

AU - Murtagh, Conall F.

AU - Ade, Jack D.

AU - Squires, Paul

AU - Orme, Patrick

AU - Anderson, Liam

AU - Whitworth-Turner, Craig M.

AU - Morton, James P.

AU - Drust, Barry

AU - Williams, Alun G.

AU - Erskine, Robert M.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors declare no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise, related to the preparation of this manuscript. This study was funded as part of a University PhD scholarship. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Elsevier Ltd

PY - 2022/5

Y1 - 2022/5

N2 - Objectives: To investigate if maturity status was associated with injury risk in male academy soccer players. Design: Prospective cohort surveillance study. Setting: Professional soccer academies. Participants: 501 players (aged 9–23 years) from eight academies in England, Spain, Uruguay and Brazil. Main outcome measures: Players were grouped by maturity offset as pre-peak height velocity (PHV), circa-PHV, post-PHV or adult. Injury prevalence proportion (IPP) and days missed were recorded for one season per player, with training/match exposure recorded in a sub-sample (n = 166). Results: IPP for all injuries combined increased with advancing maturity, with circa-PHV (p = 0.032), post-PHV (p < 0.001) and adult (p < 0.001) higher than pre-PHV. IPP was higher in post-PHV and adult than pre-PHV for non-contact (p = 0.001 and p = 0.012), soft-tissue (both p < 0.001), non-contact soft-tissue (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005), muscle (both p < 0.001), thigh (both p < 0.001), ankle (p = 0.035 and p = 0.007) and hamstring injuries (p = 0.041 and p = 0.017). Ligament/tendon IPP was greater in adult versus pre-PHV (p = 0.002). IPP for growth-related injuries was lower in post-PHV than pre-PHV (p = 0.039). Injury incidence rates (n = 166) exhibited similar patterns to IPP in the full cohort. Conclusions: Injury patterns were similar between post-PHV and adult academy players but, crucially, relatively more of these groups suffered injuries compared to pre- and circa-PHV (except growth-related injuries).

AB - Objectives: To investigate if maturity status was associated with injury risk in male academy soccer players. Design: Prospective cohort surveillance study. Setting: Professional soccer academies. Participants: 501 players (aged 9–23 years) from eight academies in England, Spain, Uruguay and Brazil. Main outcome measures: Players were grouped by maturity offset as pre-peak height velocity (PHV), circa-PHV, post-PHV or adult. Injury prevalence proportion (IPP) and days missed were recorded for one season per player, with training/match exposure recorded in a sub-sample (n = 166). Results: IPP for all injuries combined increased with advancing maturity, with circa-PHV (p = 0.032), post-PHV (p < 0.001) and adult (p < 0.001) higher than pre-PHV. IPP was higher in post-PHV and adult than pre-PHV for non-contact (p = 0.001 and p = 0.012), soft-tissue (both p < 0.001), non-contact soft-tissue (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005), muscle (both p < 0.001), thigh (both p < 0.001), ankle (p = 0.035 and p = 0.007) and hamstring injuries (p = 0.041 and p = 0.017). Ligament/tendon IPP was greater in adult versus pre-PHV (p = 0.002). IPP for growth-related injuries was lower in post-PHV than pre-PHV (p = 0.039). Injury incidence rates (n = 166) exhibited similar patterns to IPP in the full cohort. Conclusions: Injury patterns were similar between post-PHV and adult academy players but, crucially, relatively more of these groups suffered injuries compared to pre- and circa-PHV (except growth-related injuries).

KW - Adolescence

KW - Football

KW - Maturation

KW - Maturity

KW - Peak height velocity

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85126626818&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.ptsp.2022.03.006

DO - 10.1016/j.ptsp.2022.03.006

M3 - Article

C2 - 35325670

AN - SCOPUS:85126626818

SN - 1466-853X

VL - 55

SP - 111

EP - 118

JO - Physical Therapy in Sport

JF - Physical Therapy in Sport

ER -

Injury risk is greater in physically mature versus biologically younger male soccer players from academies in different countries

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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