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Updated: May 14, 2026
06:14
In Vivo Protocol of Controlled Subconcussive Head Impacts for the Validation of Field Study Data
Published on: April 18, 2019
Head and neck injuries in professional soccer
Michael Nilsson1, Martin Hägglund, Jan Ekstrand
1Football Research Group, Linköping, Sweden. michael.nilsson@skane.se
Summary
Head and neck injuries are uncommon in professional soccer, with defenders at higher risk. Many concussed players return to play too soon, risking further injury.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Orthopedics
- Neurology
Background:
- Head and neck injuries pose risks in contact sports.
- Understanding injury rates and risk factors is crucial for player safety in professional soccer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and identify risk factors for head and neck injuries in male professional soccer players.
- To analyze player- and match-related variables associated with these injuries.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study involving 26 European professional soccer teams from 2001-2010.
- Injury data collected and analyzed using Cox and logistic regression models.
- Injury rate calculated per 1000 hours of play.
Main Results:
- Head and neck injuries accounted for 2.2% of all injuries, with an overall rate of 0.17 per 1000 hours (0.06 concussions).
- Match play showed significantly higher rates of head and neck injuries (20.2 times) and concussions (78.5 times) compared to training.
- Defenders were identified as the player position with the highest risk for head and neck injuries.
Conclusions:
- Head and neck injuries are relatively infrequent in professional soccer, but specific positions like defenders are more vulnerable.
- A significant proportion (27%) of concussed players returned to play within 5 days, potentially before full recovery, contravening consensus guidelines.
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