Medical examinations undertaken by Dutch professional football clubs

During their career, professional football players undergo periodic medical examinations intended to screen and monitor their fitness and health. In the Netherlands, information about the content of these examinations is lacking and it is not known whether they comply with current Dutch occupational...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Occupational medicine (Oxford) 2014, Vol.64 (1), p.13-16
Main Authors: GOUTTEBARGE, V, SLUITER, J. K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Athletic Injuries - diagnosis
Athletic Injuries - prevention & control
Athletic Performance
Biological and medical sciences
Female
Guideline Adherence
Humans
Male
Mass Screening - methods
Mass Screening - standards
Medical sciences
Mental Health
Netherlands
Neuropsychological Tests
Occupational medicine
Physical Examination
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Respiratory Function Tests
Risk Assessment
Soccer
Sports Medicine - methods
Sports Medicine - standards
Surveys and Questionnaires
Urinalysis
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Summary:During their career, professional football players undergo periodic medical examinations intended to screen and monitor their fitness and health. In the Netherlands, information about the content of these examinations is lacking and it is not known whether they comply with current Dutch occupational medicine guidelines. To explore the content of medical examinations undertaken in Dutch professional football clubs, and assess whether they comply with current Dutch occupational medicine guidelines. An observational study conducted among physicians working for all clubs in the Dutch first- and second-tier professional football leagues, using an electronic questionnaire. Cardiovascular assessment based on different instruments was used in all clubs and respiratory assessment based on different instruments was used in most (87%). Other assessments such as mental health (7%), neurological (27%) or urinary (22%) assessments were only undertaken in some clubs. Seven out of the 26 clubs met some of the relevant aspects of current Dutch occupational medicine guidelines. The medical examinations currently undertaken in Dutch professional football clubs are diverse in nature and not consistent from one club to another. Only a limited number of clubs meet Dutch guidelines for periodic medical examinations of workers.
ISSN:0962-7480
1471-8405
DOI:10.1093/occmed/kqt129