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Are Off-Field Activities an Underestimated Risk for Hamstring Injuries in Dutch Male Amateur Soccer Players? An Exploratory Analysis of a Prospective Cohort Study

Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise volume 4, pages 28–36 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore what extent male amateur soccer players participate in off-field activities and whether these off-field activities are associated with the development of hamstring injuries.

Methods

Amateur soccer players (n = 399) from first-class selection teams (n = 32) filled out a baseline screening questionnaire concerning off-field activities (i.e., work and study type and hours, traveling time, sleep, energy costs, and time spent on other activities) and their history of hamstring injury as a part of a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Throughout one competition, the players reported weekly their hamstring injuries, which were verified by medical/technical staff. Multivariable Firth corrected logistic regression models were used to explore associations between off-field activities and hamstring injuries.

Results

Sixty-five hamstring injuries were recorded. Previous injury was significantly associated with hamstring injuries (OR ranging from 1.94 [95% CI 1.45–2.61] to 2.02 [95% CI 1.49–2.73]), but off-field activities were not.

Conclusion

Although amateur soccer players spent a relatively large amount of time on off-field activities, we did not find off-field activities measured at baseline to be associated with hamstring injuries in the subsequent competitive soccer season. In contrast, previous hamstring injury was found to be strongly associated with (recurrent) hamstring injuries.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the players, coaches, and medical staff members of the participating teams for their contribution in this study. We would also like to thank Jane Sykes for language corrections.

Funding

This work was supported by the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) under Grant [536001002]. J.J. Brauers received partial financial support from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) under Grant [546003004].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy Science and Sports, Utrecht University, University Medical Center Utrecht, Brain Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Jur J. Brauers, Peter Alexander van de Hoef, Frank J. G. Backx & Michel S. Brink

  2. Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Maarten van Smeden

  3. Center for Human Movement Sciences, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Jur J. Brauers & Michel S. Brink

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  1. Jur J. Brauers
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Correspondence to Jur J. Brauers.

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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethics Approval

The trial was approved by the Medical Ethics committee of University Medical Centre of Utrecht (16–332\C) and is registered in the Dutch trial register (http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/index.asp) (NTR6129).

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Brauers, J.J., van de Hoef, P.A., van Smeden, M. et al. Are Off-Field Activities an Underestimated Risk for Hamstring Injuries in Dutch Male Amateur Soccer Players? An Exploratory Analysis of a Prospective Cohort Study. J. of SCI. IN SPORT AND EXERCISE 4, 28–36 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42978-021-00160-y

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Keywords

  • Risk factors
  • Activities of daily living
  • Psychosocial factors
  • Football
  • Athletic injuries