The study by Ekstrand, Häglund, and Waldén examines injury incidence and patterns in professional football, using data from 23 European top teams over seven seasons (2001-2008). A total of 4,483 injuries occurred during 566,000 hours of exposure, resulting in an injury rate of 8.0 injuries per 1,000 hours. Injuries during matches were more frequent than during training (27.5 vs 4.1 injuries per 1,000 hours). On average, a player sustained 2.0 injuries per season, leading to about 50 injuries per team. Thigh strain was the most common injury type, accounting for 17% of all injuries. Re-injuries made up 12% of all injuries and resulted in longer absences than non-re-injuries. The incidence of match injuries increased over time in both halves of the game. Traumatic injuries were more common during the competitive season, while overuse injuries were more frequent during the pre-season. Training and match injury rates remained stable over the seven seasons. The study found that injury risk increased with time in each half of a match. The study also noted that head injuries were rare, with only 34 concussions recorded over seven years, suggesting possible underreporting. Re-injury rates were lower than previously reported, possibly due to better rehabilitation practices. The study highlights the importance of monitoring injury patterns and implementing preventive measures to reduce injury risk in professional football.The study by Ekstrand, Häglund, and Waldén examines injury incidence and patterns in professional football, using data from 23 European top teams over seven seasons (2001-2008). A total of 4,483 injuries occurred during 566,000 hours of exposure, resulting in an injury rate of 8.0 injuries per 1,000 hours. Injuries during matches were more frequent than during training (27.5 vs 4.1 injuries per 1,000 hours). On average, a player sustained 2.0 injuries per season, leading to about 50 injuries per team. Thigh strain was the most common injury type, accounting for 17% of all injuries. Re-injuries made up 12% of all injuries and resulted in longer absences than non-re-injuries. The incidence of match injuries increased over time in both halves of the game. Traumatic injuries were more common during the competitive season, while overuse injuries were more frequent during the pre-season. Training and match injury rates remained stable over the seven seasons. The study found that injury risk increased with time in each half of a match. The study also noted that head injuries were rare, with only 34 concussions recorded over seven years, suggesting possible underreporting. Re-injury rates were lower than previously reported, possibly due to better rehabilitation practices. The study highlights the importance of monitoring injury patterns and implementing preventive measures to reduce injury risk in professional football.