@article{ref1,
title="GPS and injury prevention in professional soccer",
journal="Journal of strength and conditioning research",
year="2015",
author="Ehrmann, Fabian E. and Duncan, Craig S. and Sindhusake, Doungkamol and Franzsen, William N. and Greene, David A.",
volume="30",
number="2",
pages="360-367",
abstract="This study investigated the relationship between GPS variables measured in training and gameplay and injury occurrences in professional soccer. Nineteen professional soccer players competing in the Australian Hyundai A-League were monitored for one entire season using 5Hz Global Positioning System (GPS) units (SPI-Pro GPSports, Canberra, Australia) in training sessions and pre-season games. The measurements obtained were Total Distance, High Intensity Running Distance, Very High Intensity Running Distance, New Body Load and Metres per Minute. Non-contact soft tissue injuries were documented throughout the season. Players' seasons were averaged over one and four week blocks according to when injuries occurred. These blocks were compared to each other and to players' seasonal averages. Players performed significantly higher Metres per Minute in the weeks preceding an injury compared to their seasonal averages (+9.6 % and +7.4 % for one and four week blocks respectively) (p<0.01), indicating an increase in training and gameplay intensity leading up to injuries. Furthermore, injury blocks showed significantly lower average New Body Load compared to seasonal averages (-15.4 % and -9.0 % for one and four week blocks respectively) (p<0.01 and p=0.01). Periods of relative under-preparedness could potentially leave players unable to cope with intense bouts of high intensity efforts during competitive matches. Although limited by FIFA regulations, the results of this study isolated two variables predicting soft tissue injuries for coaches and sports scientist to consider when planning and monitoring training.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1064-8011",
doi="10.1519/JSC.0000000000001093",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001093"
}