No Increased Injury Incidence in the German Bundesliga After the SARS-CoV-2 Virus Lockdown

Overview

Journal Arch Orthop Trauma Surg

Specialties Emergency Medicine
General Surgery
Orthopedics

Date 2021 Jul 21

PMID 34286365

Citations 10

Authors

Werner Krutsch

Abed Hadji

Tobias Tross

Dominik Szymski

Karen Aus der Funten

Barbara Gartner

Volker Alt

Tim Meyer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: The coronavirus lockdown in 2020 resulted in a worldwide suspension of professional sports. The first major professional football league to restart after the lockdown was the German Bundesliga. This study investigates whether the injury incidence increased after the restart of the season with only 9 days of regular preparation time and without any friendly matches in comparison to three control periods.

Materials And Methods: In a prospective cohort study, injury analysis (at least 1 day of absence from official football matches or training sessions) of the German Bundesliga registry was standardised according to Hägglund et al. (Br J Sports Med 39:340-346, 2005) and Fuller et al. (Clin J Sports Med 16:97-106, 2006) for data collection and to previous publications for the validated use of media sources for injury registration. The study period after the lockdown in May and June of the 2019-2020 season was compared to three control periods: the period directly before the lockdown, the beginning of the 2019-2020 season and the 2018-2019 season final.

Results: The nine match days after the restart of the 2019-2020 season showed an overall injury incidence of 4.9 per 1000 h football. This rate was significantly lower than that of the previous season final (9 last match days, overall injury incidence: 6.9 per 1000 h football; p < 0.001) and not increased compared to the rates after the summer break (9 match days; incidence: 5.5/1000 h, p > 0.05) or the winter break (8 match days; incidence: 5.6/1000 h, p > 0.05).

Conclusion: The period after the unexpected break in the 2019-2020 season due to the coronavirus lockdown and the rapid return to competition showed no increase in the injury rate compared to the pre-lockdown period and a lower injury rate than in the previous season final. The unintentional mid-season rest with its potential for physical recovery and individual fitness training seems to have had a positive effect on injury occurrence.

Citing Articles

Increased rate of injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament in amateur soccer players after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

Memmel C, Krutsch W, Weber J, Huber L, Kerschbaum M, Rupp M Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2024; 144(9):4319-4324.

PMID: 39277554 PMC: 11564296. DOI: 10.1007/s00402-024-05531-y.

Effect of COVID-19 on Injury Incidence and Severity in Professional Female Football Players: A Cohort Prospective Study.

Moreno-Perez V, Courel-Ibanez J, Oliva-Lozano J, Celda D, Buil M, Miguel I Sports Health. 2024; :19417381241262031.

PMID: 39108040 PMC: 11556620. DOI: 10.1177/19417381241262031.

Epidemiology of Injury and Illness in North American Professional Men's Soccer: Comparing COVID-19 Lockdown With Previous Seasons.

Hardin S, Silverman R, Brophy R, Putukian M, Silvers-Granelli H Sports Health. 2024; 17(2):412-418.

PMID: 38761004 PMC: 11556577. DOI: 10.1177/19417381241253227.

A Study on the Injury Rate of Spanish Competitive Athletes as a Consequence of the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown.

Prieto-Fresco J, Medina-Rebollo D, Fernandez-Gavira J, Munoz-Llerena A Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(1).

PMID: 36612741 PMC: 9819451. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010420.

Injury characteristics in Norwegian male professional football: A comparison between a regular season and a season in the pandemic.

Dalen-Lorentsen T, Andersen T, Thorbjornsen C, Brown M, Tovi D, Braastad A Front Sports Act Living. 2022; 4:915581.

PMID: 36339642 PMC: 9635315. DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2022.915581.

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