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COVID-19 as a Potential Cause of Muscle Injuries in Professional Italian Serie A Soccer Players: A Retrospective Observational Study

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Listed:
  • Giuseppe Annino

    (Department of Systems Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
    Centre of SpaceBio-Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Vincenzo Manzi

    (Department of Humanities Science, Pegaso Open University, 80143 Naples, Italy
    Hellas Verona FC, Via Olanda 11, 37135 Verona, Italy)

  • Anas Radi Alashram

    (Department of Physiotherapy, Middle East University, Amman 11831, Jordan)

  • Cristian Romagnoli

    (Department for Life Quality Studies Rimini, Alma Mater University, 47521 Bologna, Italy)

  • Mattia Coniglio

    (Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Niloofar Lamouchideli

    (Department of Human Neuroscience, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Marco Alfonso Perrone

    (Department of Systems Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
    University Sports Centre, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Dolores Limongi

    (IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, 00166 Rome, Italy
    Department of Human Sciences and Promotion of the Quality of Life, San Raffaele Roma Open University, 00166 Rome, Italy)

  • Elvira Padua

    (Department of Human Sciences and Promotion of the Quality of Life, San Raffaele Roma Open University, 00166 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has shocked the entire planet. The soccer world has also suffered major upheavals, and many professional soccer players have been infected with the virus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of injuries in Italian Serie A professional soccer players before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We evaluated the incidence of muscle injuries between four competitive seasons of the Italian Serie A (2016–2017, 2017–2018, and 2018–2019 pre-COVID-19 vs. 2020/2021 post-COVID-19) in professional soccer players. Results: Significant differences were found in muscular injuries between the post-COVID-19 season and the previous seasons ( p < 0.001). The median split of the players’ positivity duration was of 15 days. The players’ long positivity (PLP) group showed a significant number of muscular injuries compared to the players’ short positivity (PSP) group ( p < 0.0014, ES = 0.81, Large). The total teams’ days of positivity were significantly related to the total team number of muscular injuries (r = 0.86; CI 95% 0.66 to 0.94; p < 0.0001). In conclusion, this data showed that the competitive season post-COVID-19 lockdown has a higher incidence of muscle injuries in Italian Serie A soccer players compared to the pre-pandemic competitive season.

Suggested Citation

  • Giuseppe Annino & Vincenzo Manzi & Anas Radi Alashram & Cristian Romagnoli & Mattia Coniglio & Niloofar Lamouchideli & Marco Alfonso Perrone & Dolores Limongi & Elvira Padua, 2022. "COVID-19 as a Potential Cause of Muscle Injuries in Professional Italian Serie A Soccer Players: A Retrospective Observational Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-8, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:17:p:11117-:d:907142
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peeters, Thomas, 2018. "Testing the Wisdom of Crowds in the field: Transfermarkt valuations and international soccer results," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 17-29.
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    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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