Key result
Prolonged fixture congestion resulted in a high muscle injury incidence of 19.0 per 1,000 hours of match exposure, despite no differences in performance indices between short and long match intervals.
Why the study?
The study aimed to evaluate match availability, participation, muscle injury incidence, and the effect of time intervals between matches (3-4 versus 6-7 days) on physical, physiological, and psychophysiological parameters during prolonged congested fixtures.
Does a shorter time interval between matches (3-4 days) compared to a longer interval (6-7 days) affect physical parameters or muscle injury incidence in professional football players?
Comparison
Time intervals between matches of 3-4 days vs 6-7 days
Design
Observational study
Follow-up
17 consecutive weeks
Authors
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Elevated muscle injury rates during congestion warrant enhanced monitoring; leaves open whether shorter intervals causally increase risk beyond measured parameters.
Observational (n=13)
Does a shorter time interval between matches (3-4 days) compared to a longer interval (6-7 days) affect physical parameters or muscle injury incidence in professional football players?
Prolonged exposure to fixture congestion in professional football players results in a high risk of muscle injury despite no observable changes in physical or physiological performance parameters.
Pinheiro et al. (2022) conducted an observational in Professional football players (n=13). Shorter time intervals between matches (3-4 days) vs. Longer time intervals between matches (6-7 days) was evaluated on Physical, physiological, and psychophysiological parameters. Prolonged fixture congestion resulted in a high muscle injury incidence of 19.0 per 1,000 hours of match exposure, despite no differences in performance indices between short and long match intervals.
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