Effects of injury related de-training on gross motor performance in elite soccer players

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Soccer is a dynamic contact sport with a high incidence of injury. When injured, players experience a reduced or altered training stimulus compared with normal training. Such loads may lead to de-training and a subse-quent inability to fulfil the technical, tactical and physical demands of the sport on return to competition. This may increase the potential for re-injury. To identify the potential for de-training to occur for a professional soccer team by quantifying the length of absences associated with injury. To evaluate changes in gross motor performance on a soccer-related test battery following injury induced alterations in training. METHODS All attendance and absence from training were recorded using a daily register throughout the 2004-2005 season for all professional players (N = 27). Injury severity was categorised according to the total number of days play-ers were unavailable to train. All players also completed a soccer-related test battery when fit and following injury immediately prior to re-joining normal squad training. RESULTS Absences of 7-14days (n=36), 15-28 days (n=9), 29-60 days (n=10) and >60 days (n=4) was noted. No significant difference on any test performance was observed for absences of 14 days resulted in reductions (p14 days leads to a reduction in performance in anaerobic and aerobic fit-ness. Absences of this length may occur up to 23 times per season. As a consequence players may be required to com-pete with reduced fitness levels following injury. This data suggests that careful consideration should be given to both rehabilitation and the time for players to return to competition.