Injury incidence in male elite youth football players is associated with preceding levels and changes in training load
Objectives Elite youth football players miss out on a large part of seasonal training due to injury. Limited research suggests an association between external and internal training load (TL) and injury incidence in elite youth football. This study analysed external and internal TL variables and thei...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2023-11-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/9/4/e001638.full |
| _version_ | 1797320121944899584 |
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| author | Mats Borjesson Andreas Ivarsson Matilda Lundblad Tania Nilsson Dan Fransson |
| author_facet | Mats Borjesson Andreas Ivarsson Matilda Lundblad Tania Nilsson Dan Fransson |
| author_sort | Mats Borjesson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives Elite youth football players miss out on a large part of seasonal training due to injury. Limited research suggests an association between external and internal training load (TL) and injury incidence in elite youth football. This study analysed external and internal TL variables and their association with injury incidence in a group of male elite youth football players over four seasons.Methods Measures of external and internal TL and injury incidence of 56 male elite youth football players (age 17–19 years) were collected throughout four seasons. Heart rate, session rating of perceived exertion andGlobal Positioning System (GPS) variables were analysed. Individual players’ TL during the 30 days leading up to injury was compared with 30-day injury-free control periods. Change in TL through the periods was also analysed.Results Eighty-five injuries were included for analysis, showing that for most TL variables, the average levels were significantly lower during the period leading up to injury. Significant increases for the majority of TL variables were also found during the periods leading up to injury, while the control periods did not show any significant change.Conclusion A lower and/or increasing average TL volume over 30 days might increase the risk of injury in male elite youth football players. Avoiding long-term drops in TL and balance increases in TL might be beneficial to reduce injury risk. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:26:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f1c1dfa6cb924c9ea971ebf64c03b4b0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-7647 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:26:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-f1c1dfa6cb924c9ea971ebf64c03b4b02024-02-08T14:50:08ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine2055-76472023-11-019410.1136/bmjsem-2023-001638Injury incidence in male elite youth football players is associated with preceding levels and changes in training loadMats Borjesson0Andreas Ivarsson1Matilda Lundblad2Tania Nilsson3Dan Fransson4Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, Västra Götaland, SwedenSchool of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, SwedenDepartment of Food and Nutrition and Sports Science, University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, SwedenDepartment of Food and Nutrition and Sports Science, University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, SwedenDepartment of Food and Nutrition and Sports Science, University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, SwedenObjectives Elite youth football players miss out on a large part of seasonal training due to injury. Limited research suggests an association between external and internal training load (TL) and injury incidence in elite youth football. This study analysed external and internal TL variables and their association with injury incidence in a group of male elite youth football players over four seasons.Methods Measures of external and internal TL and injury incidence of 56 male elite youth football players (age 17–19 years) were collected throughout four seasons. Heart rate, session rating of perceived exertion andGlobal Positioning System (GPS) variables were analysed. Individual players’ TL during the 30 days leading up to injury was compared with 30-day injury-free control periods. Change in TL through the periods was also analysed.Results Eighty-five injuries were included for analysis, showing that for most TL variables, the average levels were significantly lower during the period leading up to injury. Significant increases for the majority of TL variables were also found during the periods leading up to injury, while the control periods did not show any significant change.Conclusion A lower and/or increasing average TL volume over 30 days might increase the risk of injury in male elite youth football players. Avoiding long-term drops in TL and balance increases in TL might be beneficial to reduce injury risk.https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/9/4/e001638.full |
| spellingShingle | Mats Borjesson Andreas Ivarsson Matilda Lundblad Tania Nilsson Dan Fransson Injury incidence in male elite youth football players is associated with preceding levels and changes in training load BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| title | Injury incidence in male elite youth football players is associated with preceding levels and changes in training load |
| title_full | Injury incidence in male elite youth football players is associated with preceding levels and changes in training load |
| title_fullStr | Injury incidence in male elite youth football players is associated with preceding levels and changes in training load |
| title_full_unstemmed | Injury incidence in male elite youth football players is associated with preceding levels and changes in training load |
| title_short | Injury incidence in male elite youth football players is associated with preceding levels and changes in training load |
| title_sort | injury incidence in male elite youth football players is associated with preceding levels and changes in training load |
| url | https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/9/4/e001638.full |
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