A prospective video-based analysis of injury situations in elite male football: football incident analysis

• Published in: The American journal of sports medicine Vol. 32; no. 6; p. 1459
• Main Authors: Arnason, Arni, Tenga, Albin, Engebretsen, Lars, Bahr, Roald
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2004
• Subjects: Adult; Athletic Injuries - etiology; Attention; Cohort Studies; Humans; Male; Risk Factors; Soccer - injuries
• ISSN: 0363-5465
• DOI: 10.1177/0363546504262973

The mechanisms for football injuries are largely unknown. To describe the characteristics of injury situations in elite male football using a video-based method called football incident analysis. Prospective cohort study. During the 1999 season, videotapes from 52 matches in the Icelandic elite football league were reviewed. Incidents (N = 95) were recorded when the match was interrupted by the referee because of a suspected injury. Team physical therapists recorded injuries prospectively (N = 28 time-loss injuries). Duels caused 84 of the incidents, mostly tackling duels (n = 54). The exposed player's attention appeared to be focused away from the opponent in 93% of the cases. The 3 main mechanisms observed were (1) breakdown attacks, tackling from the side or the front, attention focused on the ball (24%); (2) defensive tackling duels, attention focused on the ball or low ball control (20%); and (3) heading duels, attention focused on the ball in the air (13%). Most incidents and injuries occurred during breakdown attacks and when a player was involved in tackling duels. Player attention appeared to be focused mainly on the ball, not on the opponent challenging him to gain ball possession.