Risk factors, testing and preventative strategies for non-contact injuries in professional football: current perceptions and practices of 44 teams from various premier leagues.
OBJECTIVE
Little is known about injury prevention practices in professional football clubs. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine the current perceptions and practices of premier league football clubs internationally concerning risk factors, testing and preventative exercises for non-contact injuries.


METHODS
A survey was administered to 93 premier league football clubs internationally. The survey included four sections: (1) persons involved in the injury prevention programme: position, quantity, role, qualification; (2) perceptions regarding non-contact injury risk factors; (3) tests used to identify non-contact injury risk and (4) non-contact injury prevention exercises used, their perceived effectiveness and implementation strategies.


RESULTS
44 surveys were successfully returned (47%). The position of physiotherapist was the most represented position in the injury prevention programme. The top five perceived risk factors in rank order were previous injury, fatigue, muscle imbalance, fitness and movement efficiency. The five most commonly used tests to identify injury risk (in rank order) were functional movement screen, questionnaire, isokinetic dynamometry, physical tests and flexibility. The top five exercises used by clubs were (also in rank order) eccentric exercise, balance/proprioception, hamstring eccentric, core stability and, sharing the fifth position, Nordic hamstring and gluteus activation.


CONCLUSIONS
The survey revealed the most common perceptions and practices of premier league football clubs internationally regarding risk factors, testing and preventative exercises. The findings can enable reduction of the gap between research and practice.
Université de Lille-Unité de Recherche Pluridisciplinaire Sport, Santé, Société-Equipe Activité Physique, Muscle, Santé-9 rue de l'Université-59790, Ronchin, France Research and Development Department, LOSC Lille Métropole Football Club, Camphin-en-Pévèle, Lille, France.
Alan
A
McCall
Research and Development Department, LOSC Lille Métropole Football Club, Camphin-en-Pévèle, Lille, France Institute of Coaching and Performance, University of Central Lancashire, Lille, France.
Chris
C
Carling
Université de Lille-Unité de Recherche Pluridisciplinaire Sport, Santé, Société-Equipe Activité Physique, Muscle, Santé-9 rue de l'Université-59790, Ronchin, France Research and Development Department, LOSC Lille Métropole Football Club, Camphin-en-Pévèle, Lille, France.
Mathieu
M
Nedelec
Isokinetic Medical Group, London, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, London, UK.
Michael
M
Davison
Research and Development Department, LOSC Lille Métropole Football Club, Camphin-en-Pévèle, Lille, France.
Franck
F
Le Gall
Université de Lille-Unité de Recherche Pluridisciplinaire Sport, Santé, Société-Equipe Activité Physique, Muscle, Santé-9 rue de l'Université-59790, Ronchin, France.
Serge
S
Berthoin
Université de Lille-Unité de Recherche Pluridisciplinaire Sport, Santé, Société-Equipe Activité Physique, Muscle, Santé-9 rue de l'Université-59790, Ronchin, France Research and Development Department, LOSC Lille Métropole Football Club, Camphin-en-Pévèle, Lille, France.
Gregory
G
Dupont
D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D024382:Professional Role; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012307:Risk Factors; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries*; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000592:standards; D013997:Time Factors; D000078329:Workforce
Eccentric exercise; Fatigue; Injury Prevention; Muscle imbalance; Soccer