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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy
Published in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 11/2021

01-11-2021 | Osteoarthrosis | SPORTS MEDICINE

Football-related injuries are the major reason for the career end of professional male football players

Authors: Matthias Koch, Martin Klügl, Borys Frankewycz, Siegmund Lang, Michael Worlicek, Daniel Popp, Volker Alt, Werner Krutsch

Published in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy | Issue 11/2021

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Abstract

Purpose

Little is known about the consequences of injuries on professional male football players’ career and retirement period. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of injuries that male professional football players endure during their career, reasons for the end of their career and the post-career phase of retirement.

Methods

In a retrospective cross-sectional cohort study, retired male professional football players of the German Bundesliga were investigated by a standardised questionnaire to analyse the history of injuries sustained during their professional football career, the reasons for ending their career, their current health status and their suggestions for future prevention strategies.

Results

Most of the 116 analysed players (n = 73 (62.9%)) stated an injury as the reason for ending their professional career. Relevant injuries were mainly located in the lower extremities (n = 587 (61.3%)) with a focus on the knee (p < 0.001) and ankle (p < 0.001). A significant majority of the participants who had retired due to injury described degenerative symptoms, such as pain or instability, and were diagnosed with osteoarthritis after retirement (p < 0.001). These players had also often been affected by symptoms of depression during their career, which had decreased significantly after retirement. Moreover, players who had not retired due to injury had significantly better overall health status and quality of life after retirement.

Conclusion

Football-related injuries have a significant impact on the career end of professional male football players and their health status after retirement. Future prevention strategies need to particularly address injuries to the knees and ankles and to implement measures for preventing osteoarthritis after retirement.

Level of evidence

Level III
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Metadata
Title
Football-related injuries are the major reason for the career end of professional male football players
Authors
Matthias Koch
Martin Klügl
Borys Frankewycz
Siegmund Lang
Michael Worlicek
Daniel Popp
Volker Alt
Werner Krutsch
Publication date
01-11-2021
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy / Issue 11/2021
Print ISSN: 0942-2056
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7347
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-021-06684-8

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