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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Sports Act. Living
Sec. Elite Sports and Performance Enhancement
Volume 6 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fspor.2024.1360452

Potential financial loss and risk factors for hamstring muscle injuries in elite male Brazilian soccer players: a season-long prospective cohort pilot study

Provisionally accepted
Otaviano Oliveira-Júnior Otaviano Oliveira-Júnior 1Tim Gabbett Tim Gabbett 2NATALIA F. BITTENCOURT NATALIA F. BITTENCOURT 3Roberto Quintão Roberto Quintão 3Guilherme F. Reis Guilherme F. Reis 3Joao G. Claudino Joao G. Claudino 4Rodrigo C. Lasmar Rodrigo C. Lasmar 3Amanda O. Leopoldino Amanda O. Leopoldino 1*
  • 1 Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Minas Gerais (FCMMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
  • 2 University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
  • 3 Clube Atlético Mineiro, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
  • 4 Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Purpose: The aim of this pilot study was to analyze the potential financial loss and a range of potential risk factors for hamstring muscle injuries in elite Brazilian soccer. Methods: Thirty-four male players (age: 25 ± 6 years; stature: 180 ± 8 cm; body mass: 78 ± 9 kg; minutes played in matches: 1975 ± minutes) from an elite professional soccer club were monitored during a 12-month season. Muscle injury was identified by magnetic resonance imaging and the severity was defined according to the number of days away: minimal (1-3 days), mild (4-7 days), moderate (8-28 days), severe (>28 days).Potential financial loss due to the team's under achievements was determined. Dorsiflexion range of motion, eccentric knee flexor strength and isokinetic tests were performed during the pre-season.Association between dependent variables and the occurrence of injury was evaluated. Results: Nine hamstring muscle injuries with moderate severity were found in 8 athletes. Recovery time was 22 days off the field on average. Potential financial loss was $-43.2 million USD and earnings on merit money was 21%. Previous injury, increased flexor deficit 60º/sec and increased flexor fatigue index 300º/sec were all associated with a greater chance of hamstring muscle injury. Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion was significantly lower in the injured group (35.6 ± 3° vs 39.1 ± 4.9°; p = 0.017, effect size = -0.74). Conclusion: High financial burden was found in elite Brazilian soccer during one full season.Injured athletes had high hamstring fatigue index, knee flexor strength deficit, ankle range of motion restriction and previous hamstring muscle injury when compared to non-injured athletes. Therefore, preventive approaches in professional soccer players with previous hamstring injuries should be a priority.

    Keywords: MUSCLE STRAIN, eccentric knee flexor strength, Isokinetic, Football (soccer), Global positioning satellite system (GPS)

    Received: 01 Feb 2024; Accepted: 06 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Oliveira-Júnior, Gabbett, BITTENCOURT, Quintão, Reis, Claudino, Lasmar and Leopoldino. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Amanda O. Leopoldino, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Minas Gerais (FCMMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.