The Football Association Medical Research Programme: an audit of injuries in professional football: an analysis of XXXX .

@entity6475 @entity130 @entity3681
AIM: To conduct a detailed analysis of @entity3681 sustained in English professional football over two competitive seasons. METHODS: Club medical staff at 91 professional football clubs annotated @entity130 . A specific @entity130 was used together with a weekly form that documented each club's current @entity130 . RESULTS: @entity130 records for the two competitive seasons were obtained from 87% and 76% of the participating clubs. Ankle ligament @entity6475 accounted for 11% of the total injuries over the two seasons, with over three quarters (77%) of @entity6475 involving the lateral ligament complex. A total of 12 138 days and 2033 matches were missed because of @entity3681 . More @entity6475 were caused by contact mechanisms than non-contact mechanisms (59% v 39%) except in goalkeepers who sustained more non-contact @entity6475 (21% v 79%, p<0.01). @entity3681 were most often observed during tackles (54%). More @entity3681 were sustained in matches than in training (66% v 33%), with nearly half (48%) observed during the last third of each half of matches. A total of 44% of @entity6475 occurred during the first three months of the season. A high number of players (32%) who sustained @entity3681 were wearing some form of external support. The recurrence rate for @entity3681 was 9% (see methodology for definition of reinjury). CONCLUSION: Ankle ligament @entity6475 are common in football usually involving the lateral ligament complex. The high rate of occurrence and recurrence indicates that prevention is of paramount importance.
