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

• Published in: Physical therapy in sport 2009-05, Vol.10 (2), p.63-66
• Main Authors: Newsham-West, R, Button, C, Milburn, P.D, Mündermann, A, Sole, G, Schneiders, A.G, Sullivan, S.J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age groups; Aged; Athletes; Athletic Injuries - classification; Athletic Injuries - epidemiology; Athletic Injuries - etiology; Athletic Injuries - physiopathology; College football; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise; Football; Football - injuries; Humans; Injury; Injury prevention; Male; Masters athlete; Middle Aged; New Zealand - epidemiology; Participation; Physical fitness; Physical Fitness - physiology; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Physical therapy; Questionnaires; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Soccer; Sports injuries; Sports Medicine; Tendons; Training; Warm up (exercise)
• ISSN: 1466-853X; 1873-1600
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2009.01.002

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.