Key result
The rapid return to competition after the SARS-CoV-2 lockdown showed an overall injury incidence of 4.9 per 1000 hours, significantly lower than the 6.9 per 1000 hours observed in the previous season final.
Why the study?
It was unknown whether injury incidence increased in the German Bundesliga after restarting the season with only 9 days of preparation and no friendly matches following the coronavirus lockdown.
Does the rapid restart of professional football after the SARS-CoV-2 lockdown increase the incidence of injuries in professional players?
Cohort (n=497)
Yes
Does the rapid restart of professional football after the SARS-CoV-2 lockdown increase the incidence of injuries in professional players?
Absolute Event Rate: 4.9% vs 6.9%
p-value: p=<0.001
The rapid return to professional football competition after the SARS-CoV-2 lockdown did not increase injury rates, suggesting that the unintentional mid-season rest may have facilitated physical recovery.
May support rapid return protocols after interruptions; hypothesis-generating for load management and requires prospective confirmation.
INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus lockdown in 2020 resulted in a worldwide suspension of professional sports. The first major professional football league to restart after the lockdown was the German Bundesliga. This study investigates whether the injury incidence increased after the restart of the season with only 9 days of regular preparation time and without any friendly matches in comparison to three control periods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective cohort study, injury analysis (at least 1 day of absence from official football matches or training sessions) of the German Bundesliga registry was standardised according to Hägglund et al. (Br J Sports Med 39:340-346, 2005) and Fuller et al. (Clin J Sports Med 16:97-106, 2006) for data collection and to previous publications for the validated use of media sources for injury registration. The study period after the lockdown in May and June of the 2019-2020 season was compared to three control periods: the period directly before the lockdown, the beginning of the 2019-2020 season and the 2018-2019 season final. RESULTS: The nine match days after the restart of the 2019-2020 season showed an overall injury incidence of 4.9 per 1000 h football. This rate was significantly lower than that of the previous season final (9 last match days, overall injury incidence: 6.9 per 1000 h football; p < 0.001) and not increased compared to the rates after the summer break (9 match days; incidence: 5.5/1000 h, p > 0.05) or the winter break (8 match days; incidence: 5.6/1000 h, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The period after the unexpected break in the 2019-2020 season due to the coronavirus lockdown and the rapid return to competition showed no increase in the injury rate compared to the pre-lockdown period and a lower injury rate than in the previous season final. The unintentional mid-season rest with its potential for physical recovery and individual fitness training seems to have had a positive effect on injury occurrence.
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Krutsch et al. (2021) conducted a cohort in Football-related injuries (n=497). SARS-CoV-2 virus lockdown and rapid return to competition vs. Previous season final (last 9 match days of 2018-2019 season) was evaluated on Overall injury incidence per 1000 hours of football exposure (p=<0.001). The rapid return to competition after the SARS-CoV-2 lockdown showed an overall injury incidence of 4.9 per 1000 hours, significantly lower than the 6.9 per 1000 hours observed in the previous season final.
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