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The Protective Effect of Preseason Running Workload Against In-Season Hamstring Strain Injuries in Elite Soccer
Hiroki Saito1,2, Toshiki Kutsuna1, Naoki Akiyoshi3
1Major of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation, School of Health Sciences, Tokyo University of Technology, Tokyo, Japan.
Sports Health
|December 2, 2025
Summary
Higher preseason sprint distance and sprint count in elite soccer players significantly reduce the risk of hamstring strain injuries (HSI) during the season. This highlights the importance of targeted sprint training for injury prevention.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
- Injury Prevention
Background:
- Preseason training is crucial for athlete preparation and reducing hamstring strain injuries (HSI).
- This study investigates the protective role of preseason running workload against in-season HSI in elite soccer players.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between preseason running workload metrics and the risk of in-season hamstring strain injuries (HSI).
- To determine if higher sprint-related metrics during preseason training reduce HSI incidence in elite soccer players.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study analyzed global positioning system (GPS) data and HSI records from 67 elite Japanese soccer players (2021-2023).
- Key variables included internal workload, total distance, high-speed distance, sprint distance, sprint count, and acceleration/deceleration count.
- Multivariable logistic regression was employed to assess the relationship between workload metrics and HSI risk.
Main Results:
- Increased preseason sprint distance was significantly associated with a reduced risk of in-season HSI (OR, 0.896; P=0.01).
- Higher preseason sprint count also correlated with decreased HSI risk (OR, 0.761; P=0.004).
- These associations remained significant after adjustments, with AUC values of 0.721 for sprint distance and 0.739 for sprint count.
Conclusions:
- Preseason training characterized by higher sprint distances and counts offers a protective effect against in-season HSI in elite soccer players.
- Comprehensive preseason running workload, particularly sprint-focused training, is an essential strategy for injury risk reduction and enhancing season readiness.
- Implementing sprint-focused training may lower HSI incidence and minimize injury-related player absences.
Keywords:
elite soccer playersglobal positioning systemshamstring strain injurypreseason trainingrunning workloadMore Related Videos
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