GPS and Injury Prevention in Professional Soccer

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between GPS variables measured in training and gameplay and injury occurrences in professional soccer. Nineteen professional soccer players competing in the Australian Hyundai A-League were monitored for 1 entire season using 5 Hz Global Positioning System (GPS) units (SPI-Pro GPSports) in training sessions and preseason games. The measurements obtained were total distance, high-intensity running distance, very-high-intensity running distance, new body load, and meters per minute. Noncontact soft tissue injuries were documented throughout the season. Players' seasons were averaged over 1- and 4-week blocks according to when injuries occurred. These blocks were compared with each other and with players' seasonal averages. Players performed significantly higher meters per minute in the weeks preceding an injury compared with their seasonal averages (+9.6 and +7.4% for 1- and 4-week blocks, respectively) (p < 0.01), indicating an increase in training and gameplay intensity leading up to injuries. Furthermore, injury blocks showed significantly lower average new body load compared with seasonal averages (-15.4 and -9.0% for 1- and 4-week blocks, respectively) (p < 0.01 and p = 0.01). Periods of relative underpreparedness could potentially leave players unable to cope with intense bouts of high-intensity efforts during competitive matches. Although limited by Fédération Internationale de Football Association regulations, the results of this study isolated 2 variables predicting soft tissue injuries for coaches and sports scientists to consider when planning and monitoring training.

Injury prevention strategies, coach compliance and player adherence of 33 of the UEFA Elite Club Injury Study teams: a survey of teams’ head medical officers

“…Other specific measurement types identified by teams included rating of perceived exertion (RPE) heart rate (HR) and GPS. Although not currently shown in elite football players, workloads from training and matches as measured using RPE17–21 were associated with injury in other elite team sports, while early, albeit limited, studies in elite footballers have shown a link between injury and workload as measured using HR22 and GPS 23. Until research further validates (or refutes) these workload variables in professional football, the current limited and, in some cases, extrapolated evidence may provide an insight into how elite football teams might be able to interpret their workload data as calculated from RPE, HR and GPS; specifically, these aforementioned studies have shown that high cumulated loads and acute spikes/increases in load for players may provide pertinent information.…”

Sports-related workload and injury risk: simply knowing the risks will not prevent injuries: Narrative review

“…In football, some athletes have a relative under-loading of external loads prior to injury,25 as can be observed in fringe and non-selected players accumulating lower training volumes across a season 26. Equally, in cricket, fast bowlers who have an ACWR <0.50 display increased risk of injury compared to those with a higher ratio (ACWR, 0.5–0.99) 22…”

Match-related risk factors for injury in male professional football

“…It has also been suggested that high chronic loads give athletes the opportunity to develop physical qualities that could potentially have a preventive effect [95]. In football, associations between relative load and injuries have been observed in a study in which low and high relative load (depending on which method was used when measuring load) compared with players' season average was shown to be associated with an increased risk of injury [96]. One way of defining relative load is the acute to chronic workload ratio [95].…”