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Injury Incidence Increases after COVID-19 Infection: A Case Study with a Male Professional Football Team

Author

Listed:
  • Antonio Maestro

    (Faculty of Medicine, Oviedo University, 33003 Oviedo, Spain
    Hospital Begoña, 33204 Gijón, Spain)

  • David Varillas-Delgado

    (Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo, Spain)

  • Esther Morencos

    (Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo, Spain)

  • Jorge Gutiérrez-Hellín

    (Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo, Spain)

  • Millán Aguilar-Navarro

    (Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo, Spain)

  • Gonzalo Revuelta

    (Clinica El Molinon, Centre for Advanced Medicine, 33203 Gijón, Spain)

  • Juan Del Coso

    (Centre for Sport Studies, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28943 Fuenlabrada, Spain)

Abstract

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 virus disease has caused numerous changes in sports routines in the last two years, showing the influence on an increase in sports injuries. The aim of this study was to prospectively analyze the incidence and characteristics of injuries in male professional football players diagnosed with COVID-19 when they return to play after recovering from this illness. Methods: Injury characteristics of professional male football players were recorded for the 2020–2021 season following the international consensus statement from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). SARS-CoV-2 infection in the football players was certified by PCR analysis. Injury epidemiology was compared in players infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus before and after being diagnosed with COVID-19. Results: 14 players (53.8%) were diagnosed with COVID-19 during 2020–2021 season and 12 (46.2%) were not infected (controls). Only three (21.4%) had suffered an injury before being diagnosed with COVID-19. Eleven players (78.6%) had injuries after being diagnosed with COVID-19 ( p < 0.001). Among the players diagnosed with COVID-19, injury incidence increased on their return to play after the infection (3.8 to 12.4 injuries/1000 h of exposure, p < 0.001). Additionally, injury incidence during training (10.6 vs. 5.1 injuries/1000 h of exposure, p < 0.001) and matches (56.3 vs. 17.6 injuries/1000 h of exposure, p < 0.001) was ~two-fold higher on return to play after COVID-19 compared to controls (33.4 vs. 17.6 injuries/1000 h of exposure, respectively, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Injury incidence in professional football players who had been infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus significantly increased compared to the injury rates that these same players had prior to the illness. Additionally, the injury incidence was higher when compared to players who were not infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the season, especially during matches.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio Maestro & David Varillas-Delgado & Esther Morencos & Jorge Gutiérrez-Hellín & Millán Aguilar-Navarro & Gonzalo Revuelta & Juan Del Coso, 2022. "Injury Incidence Increases after COVID-19 Infection: A Case Study with a Male Professional Football Team," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-12, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:16:p:10267-:d:891416
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Paweł Kalinowski & Jakub Myszkowski & Jakub Marynowicz, 2021. "Effect of Online Training during the COVID-19 Quarantine on the Aerobic Capacity of Youth Soccer Players," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-12, June.
    2. Jad Adrian Washif & Achraf Ammar & Khaled Trabelsi & Karim Chamari & Christabelle Sheau Miin Chong & Siti Fuzyma Ayu Mohd Kassim & Philip Chun Foong Lew & Abdulaziz Farooq & David B. Pyne & Carl James, 2021. "Regression Analysis of Perceived Stress among Elite Athletes from Changes in Diet, Routine and Well-Being: Effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown and “Bubble” Training Camps," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-15, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alessandro Corsini & Andrea Bisciotti & Raffaele Canonico & Andrea Causarano & Riccardo Del Vescovo & Pierluigi Gatto & Paolo Gola & Massimo Iera & Stefano Mazzoni & Paolo Minafra & Gianni Nanni & Giu, 2023. "Are Football Players More Prone to Muscle Injury after COVID-19 Infection? The “Italian Injury Study” during the Serie a Championship," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-13, March.

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