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Updated: Feb 19, 2026
An Inertial Measurement Unit Based Method to Estimate Hip and Knee Joint Kinematics in Team Sport Athletes on the Field
Published on: May 26, 2020
Effectiveness of a soccer injury prevention program based on creatine supplementation and internal load monitoring: a
María Soler Hurtado1, Moea Treguier1, Ángel González-de-la-Flor1
1Universidad Europea de Madrid Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports Department of Physiotherapy Campus de Villaviciosa, Madrid, Spain.
Background:
Musculoskeletal injuries are frequent in soccer, occurring more often in matches than in training sessions, and mainly affecting the lower limbs. While creatine supplementation is commonly used to enhance performance, evidence regarding its role in injury prevention among soccer players remains limited. This pilot study investigated whether creatine supplementation could reduce the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries in amateur soccer players.
Methods:
A 14-week randomized controlled pilot trial was conducted with 23 amateur soccer players randomly assigned to the creatine group (n = 12; 3 g/day) or the placebo group (n = 11; maltodextrin). Primary outcomes were injury incidence and training availability. Secondary outcomes included isometric strength, countermovement jump (CMJ) performance, perceived pain, well-being, and internal load. Assessments were performed at baseline (January 2025) and post-intervention (April 2025).
Results:
Twenty-four players were randomized (12 creatine, 11placebo). Injury incidence was lower with creatine (8.3%) than placebo (36.4%) (RR = 0.23, 95% CI 0.03-1.75; p = 0.155). Missed training sessions were fewer with creatine (0.25 ± 0.87 vs 0.82 ± 1.40; p = 0.135). Significant time × group effects favored creatine for knee extension, knee flexion, hip extension, right hip flexion, and CMJ height (all p < 0.01).
Conclusion:
Creatine supplementation improved strength and jump performance and showed a trend toward lower injury incidence, supporting its potential as an adjunct in soccer injury-prevention programs.
