Head and neck injuries in professional soccer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the rate of and risk factors for head and neck injury in male soccer.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Professional soccer.


METHODS
Twenty-six European teams between 2001/2002 and 2009/2010.


METHODS
Simple and multiple risk factor analyses were evaluated using Cox regression for player-related variables and logistic regression for match-related variables.


METHODS
Injury rate (number of time loss injuries per 1000 hours).


RESULTS
A total of 136 head and neck injuries were recorded (2.2% of all injuries). The head and neck injury rate was 0.17 (0.06 concussions) per 1000 hours. There was a 20-fold higher rate of head and neck injury during match play compared with training (rate ratio [RR], 20.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 13.3-30.6) and a 78-fold higher rate of concussions (RR, 78.5; 95% CI, 24.4-252.5). Mean layoff for concussion was 10.5 days, but 27% of the concussed players returned to play within 5 days. Defender was the only significant player-related risk factor for head and neck injuries in the multiple analysis (RR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.0-3.1), whereas no significant variables were identified for concussions.


CONCLUSIONS
Head and neck injuries were relatively uncommon in professional soccer. Defender was the playing position most at risk. More than one-quarter of the concussed players returned to play before what is recommended in the consensus statements by the major sports governing bodies.
Football Research Group, Linköping, Sweden. michael.nilsson@skane.se
Michael
M
Nilsson
Martin
M
Hägglund
Jan
J
Ekstrand
Markus
M
Waldén
D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D055815:Young Adult