ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2013 November;172(11):853-7

Copyright © 2013 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

The relationship between types of football injuries and players’ positions in the Saudi Professional League

Abdel Salam A. M.

King Saud University Faculty of Sport Science and Physical Activity King Saud University, Saudi Arabia

Aim: The aim of this paper was to test the hypothesis in Saudi football players that players’ positions are related to specific types of football injuries.
Methods: All data were collected using questionnaires completed from players. Information on the player’s position, type of injury, and the injured part of the body were recorded and assessed in a blind study. A descriptive (inter-correlation) method was used. Ninety-four players in the Saudi Professional League who were injured during the 2010-2011 season were included.
Results: Bruising occurred in over 90% of all players, muscular abrasions occurred in 65%-90% of all players, and lacerations occurred in 68-86% of all players.
Conclusion: Regardless of the playing position, lower extremity injuries were the most common injuries. Among Saudi Professional League players, there is a relationship between the type of football injury and a player’s position. The most frequently injured part of the body for goalkeepers was the hands, whereas for the defence, midfield and forwards, the feet were the most frequently injured body part.