Achieving more time in the very high-intensity training zone (≥90% HRmax) increased the odds of sustaining a match injury in elite male soccer players (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.12-3.12; p=0.02).
Observational (n=23)
Does increased training volume at high-intensity levels increase injury incidence in elite professional soccer players?
Increased training volume at high and very high heart rate intensities is associated with a higher incidence of injuries, particularly match injuries, in elite professional soccer players.
Odds Ratio: 1.87 (95% CI 1.12–3.12)
p-value: p=0.02
Elite-level professional soccer players are suggested to have increased physical, technical, tactical, and psychological capabilities when compared with their subelite counterparts. Ensuring these players remain at the elite level generally involves training many different bodily systems to a high intensity or level within a short duration. This study aimed to examine whether an increase in training volume at high-intensity levels was related to injury incidence, or increased the odds of sustaining an injury. Training intensity was monitored through time spent in high-intensity (T-HI) and very high-intensity (T-VHI) zones of 85-<90% and ≥90% of maximal heart rate (HRmax), and all injuries were recorded over 2 consecutive seasons. Twenty-three, elite professional male soccer players (mean ± SD age, 25.6 ± 4.6 years; stature, 181.8 ± 6.8 cm; and body mass, 79.3 ± 8.1 kg) were studied throughout the 2-years span of the investigation. The results showed a mean total injury incidence of 18.8 (95% confidence interval CI, 14.7-22.9) injuries per 1,000 hours of exposure. Significant correlations were found between training volume at T-HI and injury incidence (r = 0.57, p = 0.005). Further analysis revealed how players achieving more time in the T-VHI zone during training increased the odds of sustaining a match injury (odds ratio = 1.87; 95% CI, 1.12-3.12, p = 0.02) but did not increase the odds of sustaining a training injury. Reducing the number of competitive match injuries among elite-level professional players may be possible if greater focus is placed on the training intensity and volume over a period of time ensuring the potential reduction of fatigue or overuse injuries. In addition, it is important to understand the optimal training load at which adaptation occurs without raising the risk of injury.
Owen et al. (2015) conducted an observational in Injury incidence (n=23). Time spent in very high-intensity training zone (≥90% HRmax) was evaluated on Sustaining a match injury (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.12-3.12, p=0.02). Achieving more time in the very high-intensity training zone (≥90% HRmax) increased the odds of sustaining a match injury in elite male soccer players (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.12-3.12; p=0.02).