Int J Sports Med 2010; 31(10): 747-750
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1261944
Clinical Sciences

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Estimation of Injury Simulation in International Men's Soccer

D. A. Rosenbaum1 , W. Saunders2 , C. M. Nelson3 , B. R. Rosenbaum4
  • 1Wake Forest University School of Medicine USA, Sports Medicine, Director Department of Family and Community Medicine, Winston-Salem, United States
  • 2Moses Cone Health System, Family Medicine Residency, Greensboro, United States
  • 3Wake Forest University School of Medicine, School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, United States
  • 4Madden Media, Graphic Design, Tucson, United States
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision June 22, 2010

Publication Date:
21 July 2010 (online)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of apparent injury incidents in men's international soccer and attempt to estimate what proportion of these incidents are authentic. Broadcast recordings of 89 group stage games from 4 tournaments were reviewed to identify incidents in which a player behaved as if injured. Apparent injuries were considered definite if a player withdrew from participation within 5 min or if bleeding was visible. The remaining incidents were considered questionable. A total of 980 apparent injuries were observed at a rate of 5.63/team game. The definite injury rate was only 0.41/team game vs. 5.22/team game for questionable injuries. Definite injuries were associated with on-field treatment (P<0.001) and stretcher (P<0.001) while questionable injuries were associated with fouls (P0.001), yellow cards (P=0.013), and the first half (P=0.001). Questionable injuries were more associated with the final 1/3 of the second half than the initial 2/3 (P=0.039). For the 24 games of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup there was an association between questionable injuries and a contact mechanism (P<0.001). The range of the rate of questionable injury was 4.17–5.4 by confederation. This information may assist soccer governing bodies in developing plans to prevent injury simulation behavior.

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Correspondence

Dr. Daryl Alan Rosenbaum

Wake Forest University School

of Medicine USA

Sports Medicine, Director

Department of Family and

Community Medicine

Department of Family Medicine

27157 Winston-Salem

United States

Phone: +1/336/716 3882

Fax: +1/336/716 3206

Email: drosenba@wfubmc.edu

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