Increase in injury risk with low body mass and aerobic-running fitness in elite Australian football

Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2015 May;10(4):458-63. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2014-0257. Epub 2014 Oct 28.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the relationships between player characteristics (including age, playing experience, ethnicity, and physical fitness) and in-season injury in elite Australian football.

Design: Single-cohort, prospective, longitudinal study.

Methods: Player characteristics (height, body mass, age, experience, ethnicity, playing position), preseason fitness (6-min run, 40-m sprint, 6×40-m sprint, vertical jump), and in-season injury data were collected over 4 seasons from 1 professional Australian football club. Data were analyzed for 69 players, for a total of 3879 player rounds and 174 seasons. Injury risk (odds ratio [OR]) and injury severity (matches missed; rate ratio [RR]) were assessed using a series of multilevel univariate and multivariate hierarchical linear models.

Results: A total of 177 injuries were recorded with 494 matches missed (2.8±3.3 matches/injury). The majority (87%) of injuries affected the lower body, with hamstring (20%) and groin/hip (14%) most prevalent. Nineteen players (28%) suffered recurrent injuries. Injury incidence was increased in players with low body mass (OR=0.887, P=.005), with poor 6-min-run performance (OR=0.994, P=.051), and playing as forwards (OR=2.216, P=.036). Injury severity was increased in players with low body mass (RR=0.892, P=.008), tall stature (RR=1.131, P=.002), poor 6-min-run (RR=0.990, P=.006), and slow 40-m-sprint (RR=3.963, P=.082) performance.

Conclusions: The potential to modify intrinsic risk factors is greatest in the preseason period, and improvements in aerobic-running fitness and increased body mass may protect against in-season injury in elite Australian football.

MeSH terms

  • Athletic Injuries / epidemiology*
  • Athletic Injuries / prevention & control
  • Body Mass Index*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Football / injuries*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Physical Fitness / physiology*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment / methods*
  • Victoria / epidemiology
  • Young Adult