Key result
A congested match schedule during the 2020 pandemic season did not significantly alter match injury incidence compared to the regular 2019 season in Norwegian male professional football (IRR 0.76).
Why the study?
The COVID-19 pandemic condensed the Norwegian male premier league schedule, prompting investigation into whether teams experienced more injuries during the congested 2020 season compared with the regular 2019 season.
Does a congested match schedule increase match injury incidence in male professional football players?
Observational (n=412)
Yes
Does a congested match schedule increase match injury incidence in male professional football players?
Relative Risk: 0.76 (95% CI 0.48–1.2)
Absolute Event Rate: 22.82% vs 30.05%
p-value: p=0.24
A congested match calendar in professional football did not increase injury rates, suggesting it is a safe alternative when combined with measures like increased substitutions.
Congested schedules were not associated with higher injury rates in this cohort; leaves open generalizability beyond pandemic-era Norwegian football.
The Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic forced the Norwegian male premier league football season to reschedule, reducing the fixture calendar substantially. Previous research has shown that a congested match schedule can affect injury rates in professional football. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether the Norwegian premier league teams suffered more injuries in the match congested 2020 season than the regular 2019-season. We invited all teams having participated in both seasons to export their injury data. Only teams that used the same medical staff to register injuries in both seasons were included, and to maximise data comparability between seasons, we applied a time-loss injury definition only. Eight of 13 teams agreed to participate and exported their injury data. The 2020 season was 57 days shorter than the 2019 season. The match injury incidence differed insignificantly (incidence rate ratio 0.76 (0.48 to 1.20; p=0.24) in the 2020 season compared to the 2019 season. Furthermore, we found no differences in the number of injuries, days lost to injury, matches missed to injury, or injury severity. We present the first injury data from a complete post-lockdown professional football season. We could not detect any differences between the two seasons, suggesting the congested match calendar in the 2020 season is a safe alternative in future seasons.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Dalen-Lorentsen et al. (2021) conducted an observational in Professional football injuries (n=412). Congested match schedule (2020 pandemic season) vs. Regular match schedule (2019 season) was evaluated on Match injury incidence (injuries per 1000 hours) (IRR 0.76, 95% CI 0.48-1.20, p=0.24). A congested match schedule during the 2020 pandemic season did not significantly alter match injury incidence compared to the regular 2019 season in Norwegian male professional football (IRR 0.76).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: