A prospective video-based analysis of injury situations in elite male football: football incident analysis.
BACKGROUND
The mechanisms for football injuries are largely unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the characteristics of injury situations in elite male football using a video-based method called football incident analysis.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
During the 1999 season, videotapes from 52 matches in the Icelandic elite football league were reviewed. Incidents (N = 95) were recorded when the match was interrupted by the referee because of a suspected injury. Team physical therapists recorded injuries prospectively (N = 28 time-loss injuries).


RESULTS
Duels caused 84 of the incidents, mostly tackling duels (n = 54). The exposed player's attention appeared to be focused away from the opponent in 93% of the cases. The 3 main mechanisms observed were (1) breakdown attacks, tackling from the side or the front, attention focused on the ball (24%); (2) defensive tackling duels, attention focused on the ball or low ball control (20%); and (3) heading duels, attention focused on the ball in the air (13%).


CONCLUSIONS
Most incidents and injuries occurred during breakdown attacks and when a player was involved in tackling duels. Player attention appeared to be focused mainly on the ball, not on the opponent challenging him to gain ball possession.
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. arnarna@hi.is
Arni
A
Arnason
Albin
A
Tenga
Lars
L
Engebretsen
Roald
R
Bahr
D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D001288:Attention; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries*; D014741:Video Recording