TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - Risk factors for injuries in professional football players
JO  - Folia Medica (Plovdiv)
A1  - Haxhiu, Bekim
A1  - Murtezani, Ardiana
A1  - Zahiti, Bedri
A1  - Shalaj, Ismet
A1  - Sllamniku, Sabit
SP  - 138
EP  - 143
VL  - 57
IS  - 2
N2  - AIM: The aim of this study was to identify risk factors related to the occurrence of injuries in football (soccer) players. <br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 216 football players from 12 teams in the elite football league. Football-related injury data were collected prospectively during the 2012/2013 competitive season. At baseline the following information was collected for the players: anthropometric measurements (weight, height, BMI, subcutaneous skinfolds), playing experience, injury history, physical fitness performance test (agility run), peak oxygen uptake. The incidence, type and severity of injuries and training and game exposure times were prospectively documented for each player. <br><br>RESULTS: Most of the players (n = 155, 71.7%) sustained the injures during the study period. The overall injury incidence during the regular season was 6.3 injuries per 1000 athlete-exposures (95% confidence interval, 4.31-9.67). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that playing experience (odds ratio [OR] = 0.44; 95% CI = 0.32-0.61, p < 0.01), age (OR = 2.05; 95% CI = 1.49-2.81, p < 0.01) and a previous injury (OR = 4.4; 95% CI = 2.14-9.07, p < 0.01) were significantly correlated to increased risk of injuries. Body mass index was not associated with risk of injury. Strains (34.19%) and sprains (25.81%) were the major injury types. Twenty-seven percent of injured players were absent from football for more than 1 month, with knee injuries (25.42%) being the most severe type. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The risk factors that increase injury rates in football players were previous injury, higher age and years of playing. Future research should include adequate rehabilitation program to reduce the risk of injuries.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0204-8043
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/folmed-2015-0033
ID  - ref1
ER  -