Key result
Environmental temperatures (-11.2 to 37.1°C) had no significant relationship with the rate or type of injury occurrence in professional football (P>0.05 for 5°C temperature categories).
Why the study?
The study was conducted to investigate associations between environmental temperatures and injury occurrence in two professional male football leagues.
Does environmental temperature affect injury occurrence in professional male football?
Cross-Sectional
Yes
Does environmental temperature affect injury occurrence in professional male football?
p-value: p=>0.05
Environmental temperatures within observed ranges do not significantly impact injury rates or types in professional male football.
No temperature-injury link in elite leagues; leaves open associations in other populations or settings.
A cross-sectional analysis was performed to investigate associations between environmental temperatures and injury occurrence in two professional male football (soccer) leagues. Data from seven seasons of the German Bundesliga (2142 matches) and four seasons of the Australian A-League (470 matches) were included. Injuries were collated via media reports for the Bundesliga and via team staff reports in the A-League and comprised injury incidence, mechanisms (contact, noncontact), locations (e.g., ankle, knee, and thigh), and types (e.g., muscle and tendon, joint and ligament). Weather data included ambient air temperature (temperature or T) and wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), which were collected from online sources retrospectively. Generalized linear mixed models were analyzed to examine associations between temperature or WBGT and injury occurrence for each league, respectively. Additionally, matches were grouped into categories of 5°C temperature steps to compare for injury occurrence. Results showed no relationship existed between either temperature or WBGT and any injury occurrence, mechanisms, locations or types for the Bundesliga ( P > 0.10). A trend for an increase in injury occurrence in higher WBGT existed in the A-League ( P = 0.05). Comparisons between 5°C temperature categories showed no significant differences for injury occurrence for either temperature or WBGT in either League ( P > 0.05). Within the observed temperature ranges (−11.2 to 37.1°C T; −12.2 to 29.6°C WBGT) environmental temperature had no relationship with the rate or type of injury occurrence in professional football. Nevertheless, the number of matches at extreme heat within this study was limited and other factors (e.g., playing intensity, season stage, ground conditions) likely co-influence the relationship with injuries.
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Schwarz et al. (2025) conducted a cross-sectional in Injury occurrence in professional football. Environmental temperatures (ambient air temperature and WBGT) vs. Different temperature categories (5°C steps) was evaluated on Injury occurrence, mechanisms, locations, and types (p=>0.05). Environmental temperatures (-11.2 to 37.1°C) had no significant relationship with the rate or type of injury occurrence in professional football (P>0.05 for 5°C temperature categories).
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