Journal
CLINICAL JOURNAL OF SPORT MEDICINE
Volume 30, Issue -, Pages S47-S52Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000000572
Keywords
soccer; head impact; head trauma; injury situations; risk reduction
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Funding
- German Federal Institute of Sports Science (BiSp)
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Objective: To identify risk situations promoting head injuries in professional male football (soccer) and to investigate the impact of a rule change in 2006 punishing elbow-head contacts. Design: Analysis of video sequences of head events leading to head injury. Participants: Professional football players of the first male German Bundesliga. Main Outcome Measures: Observational criteria of head impacts on video recordings (players' actions preceding head injuries, foul play-referee's decision and assessment of rater, ball possession, on-pitch medical treatment, and consequences of head impact). Results: Three hundred thirty-four head injuries were reported in kicker Sportmagazin corresponding to an incidence rate of 2.25 (95% confidence interval 2.01-2.51) per 1000 player match hours. The injured player predominantly jumped (60%), headed the ball (36%), or ran forwards (20%); the noninjured players mainly jumped (64%), headed the ball (27%), or raised the elbow to the head (23%). Free ball situations (2 players challenge for the ball) caused most of the head injuries (81%). The players' action raising the elbow during a head injury seemed to be lower after the rule change. Conclusions: Jumping for the ball with the intention of heading is the predominant action associated with head injury risk. Head injuries occur most often when players challenge for the ball in a header duel. As head injuries bear the potential risk of long-term health sequelae, the identification of situational circumstances is essential to develop preventative means in the future.
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