Saudi Professional League: A Prospective Study of the Injuries and Illnesses Sustained by Professional Soccer Players During the 2015 - 2016 Season

Background: Soccer is the one of the most popular sports in the world, with more than 265 million players globally. However, this game carries with it the risk of a wide variety of injuries and illnesses, which can cause playing time losses and economic burdens to both the individual athletes and the sports organizations. Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the incidences, severities, and causes of the injuries and illnesses sustained by soccer players involved in the Saudi Professional League during the 2015 - 2016 soccer season. Methods: Ten professional soccer clubs (300 total players) who participated in the Saudi Professional League were followed prospectively throughout the 2015 - 2016 season. The physicians and physical therapists from each team reported the daily occurrences of their players' injuries and illnesses using a standardized medical report form. Results: Out of the 386 injuries reported, 86% of the injuries were expected to result in playing time lost. Contact with another player was the most frequently reported injury cause during competition and training. Contusions, hematomas, and bruises (n = 138, 35%) were the injuries most commonly reported, followed by strains, muscle ruptures, and tears (n = 68, 17.6%). Seventy-five illnesses were reported in 63 players, with the most common diagnoses being respiratory tract infections (n = 33, 44%) and gastroenteritis (n = 14, 18%). Conclusions: This results of this study showed the injury and illness profiles of professional soccer players in Saudi Arabia. Contusions, hematomas, and bruises were the injuries most commonly reported, while respiratory tract infections were the most common illnesses. Contact with another player and overuse were the most common causes of the injuries. These study findings can serve as a valuable reference for understanding the nature of the injuries and illnesses of soccer players, and ultimately, the implementation of effective preventive strategies. Keywords: Injury Surveillance, Injury Trends, Saudi Professional League, Injury Prevalence, Sports Participation