Evaluation of soccer injury prevention training: A literature review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Soccer, an essential part of many cultures, shows a high incidence of injuries due to the intensity of practice. Thus, preventive programmes are fundamental to ensure the sustainability of the sport.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate injury prevention protocols in football, through a literature review.
METHODS: The study is characterised as a scoping review, conducted in the PubMed and SciELO databases between March and October 2023, using descriptors in Portuguese and English (“training,” “injury prevention,” and “soccer”), combined with the Boolean operator AND and limited to the period 2018–2023. Complete and original articles applied to adult male soccer players were included, while reviews, editorials, commentaries, duplicates, and studies without corresponding methodology were excluded. After screening by title, abstract, and full-text reading, of the 483 articles retrieved, 11 met the criteria and served as the basis for data extraction, organisation, and analysis in response to the research question.
RESULTS: Prevention programmes in football showed a reduction in the incidence, recurrence, and severity of injuries, especially in the hamstrings and ankles. There was also a decrease in time lost and an improvement in physical performance, such as eccentric strength, agility, and dribbling. Programmes like FIFA 11+ stood out for their consistent results. Overall, the systematic application of these interventions positively impacts players’ health and performance.
CONCLUSION: Based on the research, the FIFA11+ injury prevention program emerged as the most evaluated, showing promising results. Therefore, further studies evaluating the necessary adherence level to the FIFA11+ program for injury prevention in training related to the chosen application method are deemed relevant.