Abstract
To assess the players’ risk of a subsequent injury after sustaining
concussive injuries and their return-to-competition in German professional
men’s football. A prospective injury database in the 1st
Bundesliga was created encompassing 7 seasons
(2014/15–2020/21). Cox proportional hazard model
analyzed whether a concussive injury increased the risk of a subsequent injury
in the first year after the index injury. 6,651 injuries were reported
(n=182 concussive injuries). The incidence rate was 0.15 (95% CI
0.13–0.17) per 1000 football hours. A concussive injury was associated
with only a slightly numerical higher risk of 7% (HR=1.07,
95% CI 0.78–1.47) in the subsequent year after the injury
compared to a randomly selected non-concussive injury, but the effect was not
significant. The risk was higher after 6–12 months post-SRC reaching
70% (HR=1.70, 95% CI 1.15–2.52). For 0–3
months (HR=0.76, 95% CI 0.48–1.20) and 3–6
months (HR=0.97, 95% CI 0.62–1.50) the injury risk was
lower. The present data do not confirm previously published investigations about
an increased injury risk after SRC. Contrasting effects of lower hazard ratios
were found early after SRC, followed by an increase after 6–12 months.
Further research should look into compliance rates with regards to
return-to-competition protocols.
Key words
head injury - traumatic brain injury - soccer - prevention - sequalae
