title: Regional differences in injury incidence in European professional football.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate regional differences in injury incidence in men's professional football in Europe. A nine-season prospective cohort study was carried out between 2001-2002 and 2009-2010 involving 1357 players in 25 teams from nine countries. Teams were categorized into different regions according to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system. Teams from the northern parts of Europe (n = 20) had higher incidences of injury overall [rate ratio 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06 to 1.20], training injury (rate ratio 1.16, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.27), and severe injury (rate ratio 1.29, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.52), all statistically significant, compared to teams from more southern parts (n = 5). In contrast, the anterior cruciate ligament injury incidence was lower in the northern European teams with a statistically significant difference (rate ratio 0.43, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.77), especially for noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury (rate ratio 0.19, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.39). In conclusion, this study suggests that there are regional differences in injury incidence of European professional football. However, further studies are needed to identify the underlying causes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. markus.walden@telia.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waldén
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hägglund
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Orchard
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kristenson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ekstrand
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000453:epidemiology; D002980:Climate; D015331:Cohort Studies; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors