title: Muscle injuries of the dominant or non-dominant leg in male football players at elite level.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to study possible differences of muscle injuries regarding type, localization and the extent of injury between the dominant and non-dominant leg in elite male football players. Another aim was to study the injury incidence of muscle injuries of the lower extremity during match and training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were consecutively collected between 2007 and 2013 in a prospective cohort study based on 54 football players from one team of the Swedish first league. The injury incidence was calculated for both match and training, injuries to the hip adductors, quadriceps, hamstrings and triceps surae were diagnosed and evaluated with ultrasonography, and their length, depth and width were measured to determine the extent of structural muscle injuries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-four players suffered totally 105 of the studied muscle injuries. Out of these 105 injuries, the dominant leg was affected in 53 % (n = 56) of the cases. A significantly greater extent of the injury was found in the dominant leg when compared with the non-dominant leg with regard to structural injuries of the hamstrings. No other significant differences were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Structural hamstring muscle injuries were found to be of greater extent in the dominant leg when compared with the non-dominant leg. This new finding should be taken into consideration when allowing the football player to return to play after leg muscle injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Stockholm Sports Trauma Research Centre, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. kjell.svensson@ki.se.|CIFU/Capio Artro Clinic, Sophiahemmet, Box 5605, 114 86, Stockholm, Sweden. kjell.svensson@ki.se.
authors.forename: Kjell
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Stockholm Sports Trauma Research Centre, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mattias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eckerman
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Swedish Winter Sport Research Centre, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden.|Department of Sports Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alricsson
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Radiology, Gällivare Hospital, Gällivare, Sweden.
authors.forename: Theofilos
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Magounakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Stockholm Sports Trauma Research Centre, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|CIFU/Capio Artro Clinic, Sophiahemmet, Box 5605, 114 86, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Werner
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000070633:Hamstring Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Muscle tear; Soccer; Sonography; Strain; Ultrasound