The study by Ekstrand, Hägglund, and Waldén examines the injury characteristics and incidence in professional football over seven consecutive seasons. The research, conducted from 2001 to 2008, involved 23 teams from the top 50 European clubs, with data collected by team medical staff. Key findings include: - **Injury Incidence**: 4,483 injuries occurred over 566,000 hours of exposure, resulting in an injury incidence of 8.0 injuries per 1,000 hours. Match injuries were more common than training injuries (27.5 vs. 4.1, p<0.0001). - **Common Injuries**: Thigh strain was the most common injury subtype, accounting for 17% of all injuries. Hamstring strains were the most frequent severe injuries, causing 12% of all injuries and longer absences (24 vs. 18 days, p<0.0001). - **Re-injuries**: Re-injuries accounted for 12% of all injuries and led to significantly longer absences. - **Seasonal Variations**: The incidence of match injuries increased over time in both halves of matches. Traumatic injuries were more common during the competitive season (September to May), while overuse injuries peaked during the pre-season preparation period (July). - **Seven-Year Trends**: The total injury incidence, training and match injury incidences, and severe injury rates remained stable over the seven-year period. The study highlights the high risk of injuries in professional football, particularly hamstring strains, and suggests that fatigue may contribute to increased injury risk towards the end of matches. It also emphasizes the importance of proper rehabilitation to reduce re-injury rates.The study by Ekstrand, Hägglund, and Waldén examines the injury characteristics and incidence in professional football over seven consecutive seasons. The research, conducted from 2001 to 2008, involved 23 teams from the top 50 European clubs, with data collected by team medical staff. Key findings include: - **Injury Incidence**: 4,483 injuries occurred over 566,000 hours of exposure, resulting in an injury incidence of 8.0 injuries per 1,000 hours. Match injuries were more common than training injuries (27.5 vs. 4.1, p<0.0001). - **Common Injuries**: Thigh strain was the most common injury subtype, accounting for 17% of all injuries. Hamstring strains were the most frequent severe injuries, causing 12% of all injuries and longer absences (24 vs. 18 days, p<0.0001). - **Re-injuries**: Re-injuries accounted for 12% of all injuries and led to significantly longer absences. - **Seasonal Variations**: The incidence of match injuries increased over time in both halves of matches. Traumatic injuries were more common during the competitive season (September to May), while overuse injuries peaked during the pre-season preparation period (July). - **Seven-Year Trends**: The total injury incidence, training and match injury incidences, and severe injury rates remained stable over the seven-year period. The study highlights the high risk of injuries in professional football, particularly hamstring strains, and suggests that fatigue may contribute to increased injury risk towards the end of matches. It also emphasizes the importance of proper rehabilitation to reduce re-injury rates.