Training habits and injuries of masters' level football players: A preliminary report

Newsham-West, R.; Button, C.; Milburn, P.D.; Mündermann, A.; Sole, G.; Schneiders, A.G.; Sullivan, S.J.

doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2009.01.002

« Previous Next »Physical Therapy in Sport
Volume 10, Issue 2 , Pages 63-66, May 2009

Training habits and injuries of masters' level football players: A preliminary report

R. Newsham-West
- Centre for Physiotherapy Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
C. Button
- School of Physical Education, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
P.D. Milburn
- Centre for Physiotherapy Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
A. Mündermann
- Centre for Physiotherapy Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
G. Sole
- Centre for Physiotherapy Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
A.G. Schneiders
- Centre for Physiotherapy Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +64 3 479 5426; fax: +64 3 479 8414.
S.J. Sullivan
- Centre for Physiotherapy Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Received 17 October 2008; received in revised form 8 January 2009; accepted 22 January 2009. published online 04 March 2009.

Abstract

Objective

To profile training habits and injuries in football players participating in a national Masters tournament.

Methods

A cross-sectional retrospective study design was used to survey male football players attending the 2008 New Zealand Masters Games. Information regarding player demographics, football injuries, football related training, and risk factors for injury were collected.

Results

199 Players were recruited, with a median age of 44 yrs (range 35–73) and a median football playing history of 15 yrs (range 0–66). Irrespective of age, 112 (84%) players included a warm-up and 104 (78%) included a stretching regime in their regular training programme. In the 12 months prior to the tournament, 128 football related injuries were reported by 93 players (64 injuries/100 players or 46 injured players/100 players). The most frequently injured region was the lower limb; specifically the lower leg (n=23), ankle (n=18), hamstring (n=17), knee (n=15), and Achilles tendon (n=15).

Conclusion

This study provides a preliminary insight into the training habits and injury profiles of Masters football players. Despite all players including some form of injury prevention strategy in their training, a significant number of players experienced an injury in the 12 months prior to the tournament.

Keywords: Football, Soccer, Masters athlete, Injury, Training, Age groups