Does positional role influence the type and number of injuries in professional soccer players?
Goalkeepers in professional soccer are the most frequently injured players, with the ankle being the most common injury site.
The main aim of the present study was to evaluate whether players in different positional roles were sustaining different types and numbers of injuries in Serbian professional soccer. During the 2001 season (from the spring through the fall), the same medical doctor (a certified sports medicine specialist) evaluated all sports injuries seen in the sports medicine ambulance. After the evaluation, the sports medicine specialist completed a standardized injury report for each injury, and injury reports were retrospectively compiled and categorized by team position and anatomic site of injury. There were an average of 8.7 injuries sustained by each subject. During the period of this study, goalkeepers were the most frequently injured players (p < 0.05); other positional roles were injured less frequently. The most frequent injury site was the ankle (p < 0.05). The main finding of the present study was that goalkeepers are the most frequently injured players in professional soccer during the season, whereas other positions are less likely to be injured. This injury pattern could give coaches, athletic trainers, and team physicians better working knowledge to help plan prevention and treatment.
Sergej M. Ostojić (Tue,) studied this question.