Fifty-five male soccer players organized in three teams, one high and two lower ranking, were followed prospectively during 1 year to register the rate, type and severity of injuries in highly skilled and low-skilled players.The injury rate of the low-skilled players was significantly higher than that of the better players. The reason for this is that low-skilled players play in more competitions and this is where injuries tend to occur. When we stratified on game/practice, the low-skilled players' excess risk disappeared and no difference was found in the severity of injuries.Different ways of collecting data in epidemiological studies of soccer are discussed and it is concluded that the most precise and accurate collection of data can only be obtained by direct supervision and examination of soccer players in the field.

The risk management process (Figure 1) is incorporated into a growing number of standards and guidelines. Japan, Canada, and Australia have adapted the process to prevent future disasters, or to be better prepared for the next ones. This paper addresses the risk management process in general, and subsequent topics such as:• Transfer of risk information prior to accidents/disasters; • The risk management process as the link between "ordinary" accidents and "disasters"; • Transformation of experience to knowledge; and • Criteria for accepting risks.

The value of a compression bandage applied for 4 days following ankle sprains was assessed in a comparative study. The effect of the treatment was evaluated by changes in an inflammatory score based on a combination of subjective (pain, function) and objective (swelling, limitation of movement, pain on passive movement) factors. The study included two consecutive series each of 50 patients treated with a compression bandage, and untreated. There was no significant difference in the reduction of the inflammatory score from start to the fourth day (0.5 less than p less than 0.6) or from start to the eighth day (0.1 less than p less than 0.2) between the group treated with compression bandage and the untreated group. Analysis of the individual factors included in the inflammatory score demonstrated no difference in the course of pain, function, swelling, or limitation of movement between the two groups.

In a prospective study, 150 patients with lesions of lateral ankle ligaments were treated with early mobilization without any fixation of the ankle. After 8 days, 67% were free from pain on ordinary walking and 81% had resumed work. After 1 month 90% were free from pain and 97% had resumed work. Sport was resumed by 70% of athletes after 1 month and 90% after 3 months. At the 1-year follow-up (n = 137), 18% were not fully recovered and experienced pain (14%) or functional instability (7%) or had not resumed sport at their normal level (7%). However, only 8% found the condition inconvenient. Athletes had an increased risk of residual symptoms (p less than 0.01) and residual symptoms occurred in 32% of top athletes after 1 year.