Abstract
Objectives
This study investigated the association between high-speed running (HSR) and sprint
running (SR) and injuries within elite soccer players. The impact of intermittent
aerobic fitness as measured by the end speed of the 30–15 intermittent fitness test
(30–15 VIFT) and high chronic workloads (average 21-day) as potential mediators of injury risk
were also investigated.
Design
Observational Cohort Study.
Methods
37 elite soccer players from one elite squad were involved in a one-season study.
Training and game workloads (session-RPE × duration) were recorded in conjunction with external training loads (using global
positioning system technology) to measure the HSR (>14.4 km h−1) and SR (>19.8 km h−1) distance covered across weekly periods during the season. Lower limb injuries were
also recorded. Training load and GPS data were modelled against injury data using
logistic regression. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated with 90% confidence intervals
based on 21-day chronic training load status (sRPE), aerobic fitness, HSR and SR distance
with these reported against a reference group.
Results
Players who completed moderate HSR (701–750-m: OR: 0.12, 90%CI: 0.08–0.94) and SR
distances (201–350-m: OR: 0.54, 90%CI: 0.41–0.85) were at reduced injury risk compared
to low HSR (≤674-m) and SR (≤165-m) reference groups. Injury risk was higher for players
who experienced large weekly changes in HSR (351–455-m; OR: 3.02; 90%CI: 2.03–5.18)
and SR distances (between 75–105-m; OR: 6.12, 90%CI: 4.66–8.29). Players who exerted
higher chronic training loads (≥2584 AU) were at significantly reduced risk of injury
when they covered 1-weekly HSR distances of 701–750 m compared to the reference group of <674 m (OR = 0.65, 90% CI 0.27–0.89). When intermittent aerobic fitness was considered based on
30–15 VIFT performance, players with poor aerobic fitness had a greater risk of injury than
players with better-developed aerobic fitness.
Conclusions
Exposing players to large and rapid increases in HSR and SR distances increased the
odds of injury. However, higher chronic training loads (≥2584 AU) and better intermittent
aerobic fitness off-set lower limb injury risk associated with these running distances
in elite soccer players.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 24, 2017
Accepted:
May 15,
2017
Received in revised form:
April 22,
2017
Received:
March 17,
2017
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
