Unravelling the relationship between external load and the Incidence of hamstring Injuries in professional soccer players

Abstract

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES. The study aimed to analyze external load indicators with the incidence of non-contact hamstring injuries. MATERIAL AND METHODS. A non-experimental correlative, retrospective cohort study was carried out. The data were collected from 31 professional male soccer players over the course of one season. The following load indicators were examined: duration (D), total distance travelled (TDT), distance travelled at high intensity (DTHI) > 20km/h, number of efforts between 20-25 km/h (NE 20-25km/h), distance travelled at more than 25km/h (DR+25km/h), number of sprints greater than 25km/h (NE > 25km/h), number of accelerations greater than 1m/s² (Acc), and number of minor decelerations at -1m/s² (Dcc). Only non-contact hamstring injuries were included in the analysis. For the multivariate analysis, we applied a logistic regression model, where a value of P < 0.05 was established both for the statistical significance of the model (X²) and for each of the regressor variables (X²), the confidence interval level was 95%. RESULTS. Two injuries were recorded and diagnosed: injury grade 2 and muscle fatigue. The load indicators analyzed did not show a significant correlation with hamstring injury. Therefore, no association was found between external load and hamstring injury in professional soccer players. CONCLUSIONS. The logistic regression model (p > 0.05) did not present statistical significance. Consequently, none of the external load variables monitored explain the rate of non-contact hamstring injuries in this population.