Concussions in Portuguese Professional Football: A Preliminary Epidemiological Study

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Neurology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Concussions pose significant neurological risks in professional football.
• Data on concussion epidemiology in Portuguese football is limited.
• This study addresses the gap in understanding concussion incidents in Portuguese professional leagues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize concussion incidence, mechanisms, and symptomatology in Portuguese professional football.
• To analyze the medical response to concussions.
• To identify risk factors and associations in football-related head injuries.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective observational analysis of reported concussions in Liga Portugal First and Second Leagues (2023/2024 season).
• Data collected included player position, injury time, mechanism, symptoms, and medical interventions.
• Analysis focused on reported cases from club medical teams during official matches.

Main Results:

• Six concussions reported (0.60 per 1000 player-hours), predominantly in defenders.
• Head-to-head collisions were the most common mechanism, followed by ball impact and falls.
• A statistically significant association was found between non-head-to-head impacts and amnesia (p=0.014), though sample size is very limited.

Conclusions:

• Defenders are at higher risk for head injuries, particularly late in matches.
• The association between non-head-to-head impacts and amnesia requires further investigation.
• Improved concussion surveillance, sideline assessment, and return-to-play protocols are crucial for player safety.