Low injury rate strongly correlates with team success in Qatari professional football.
BACKGROUND
Although the incidence of football injuries should relate to team success there is little empirical evidence.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated the relationship between injury incidence and team success in Qatar first-division football clubs.


METHODS
Using a prospective cohort study design, we captured exposure and injuries in Qatar male elite football for a season. Club performance was measured by total league points, ranking, goal scored, goals conceded and number of matches won, drawn or lost.


RESULTS
Lower injury incidence was strongly correlated with team ranking position (r=0.929, p=0.003), more games won (r=0.883, p=0.008), more goals scored (r=0.893, p=0.007), greater goal difference (r=0.821, p=0.003) and total points (r=0.929, p=0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Lower incidence rate was strongly correlated with team success. Prevention of injuries may contribute to team success.
Department of Sports Medicine, Aspetar-Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar. cristiano.eirale@aspetar.com
Cristiano
C
Eirale
J L
JL
Tol
Abdulaziz
A
Farooq
Faten
F
Smiley
Hakim
H
Chalabi
D000124:Achievement; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011780:Qatar; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data