Video Analysis of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Nigerian and English Professional Soccer Leagues: A Comparative Study

A better understanding of the pattern of musculoskeletal injuries and the zones of the playing field where injuries occur is needed in order to device specific injury prevention programmes for the Nigerian premier soccer league (NPL). This study was therefore aimed at determining the causes, frequency, and methods of treatment of injuries sustained in selected matches of NPL compared with the English premier soccer leagues (EPL) during the 2005/2006 season. Fifty matches (25 each from the NPL and EPL) were randomly selected. Video tapes of the selected matches were reviewed. Injuries were recorded with respect to causes, parts of the body injured, outcomes of treatment and zones of the playing field where the injuries occurred. A total of 230 injuries were recorded. NPL matches had the highest occurrence of the injuries (67.83%, 156/230). The knee and the ankle were the most common injured parts. Most injuries were caused by tackling attempts and accidental contacts. The highest number of injuries occurred at the midfield zone and the score box. Injured players in the NPL were not promptly and properly attended to medically. This resulted in a large percentage of these players returning to the field of play with some signs of residua injury. Keywords: Soccer Players, Nigerian Premier League, English Premier League. Musculoskeletal Injuries.Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 6 (2) 2007: pp. 85-8