Injury incidence in a spanish sub-elite professional football team: A prospective study during four consecutive seasons

The aim of this study was to investigate the injury incidence and injury characteristics of a spanish sub-elite professional football team during four consecutive seasons. a team was followed prospectively from the season 2003-2004 to 2006-2007 and individual player exposure and time loss injuries were recorded during all club training sessions and matches. a total of 313 time-loss injuries were recorded. the mean injury incidence was 10.9 injuries/1000 hours (5.2 injuries/1000 training hours and 44.1 injuries/1000 match hours). the injury incidence during competitive matches was higher (p < 0.001) than in friendly matches (55.8 vs. 22.6 injuries/1000 hours). the incidence of major injuries (>28 days absence) was 0.4 injuries/1000 hours. the thigh was the most commonly (35%) injured region and caused 29% of all competitive match absence. muscle injuries in the four main groups of the lower limbs (hamstrings,adductors,quadriceps and calf muscles) caused 43% of competitive match unavailability. the results of this study show that the risk to sustain a major injury in the course of the season was low for sub-elite footballers in comparison to elite players. thigh strains were the first cause of absence in competition due to injury. © journal of sports science and medicine.