Systematic Video Analysis of ACL Injuries in Male Professional English Soccer Players: A Study of 124 Cases.

BACKGROUND

Improving our understanding of the situations and biomechanics that result in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury will support the design of effective injury risk mitigation programs. A few video analyses have been published in recent years, but not specifically involving English soccer.

PURPOSE: To describe the mechanisms, situational patterns, and biomechanics (kinematics) of ACL injuries of players involved in matches involving teams in the top 2 tiers of professional English soccer (the Premier League and the Championship).

STUDY

DESIGN

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

We identified 148 consecutive ACL injuries across 11 seasons of professional English soccer. Overall, 124 (84%) injury videos were analyzed for mechanism and situational patterns, while biomechanical analysis was possible in 91 injuries. Three independent reviewers evaluated each video. ACL injury epidemiology (month, timing within the match, and location on the playing field at the time of injury) was also reported.

RESULTS

More injuries occurred in defensive (n = 79; 64%) than offensive (n = 45; 36%) playing situations; 24 (19%) injuries were direct contact, 52 (42%) indirect contact, and 47 (38%) noncontact. Of the indirect and non-contact ACL injuries (n = 100), most (91%) occurred during 4 main situational patterns: (1) pressing/tackling (n = 50; 50%); (2) being tackled (n = 18; 18%), (3) landing from a jump (n = 13; 13%), and (4) regaining balance after kicking (n = 10; 10%). These injuries generally involved a knee flexion strategy (with minimal hip/trunk flexion and reduced plantarflexion) in the sagittal plane and appearance of knee valgus in most cases (70%; 96% of identifiable cases). More (n = 71; 57%) injuries occurred in the first half of matches than in the second half (P < .01).

CONCLUSION

Indirect contact rather than noncontact was the main ACL injury mechanism in male elite English soccer players. Four main situational patterns were described, with pressing/tackling and being tackled accounting for two-thirds of all indirect and noncontact injuries. Biomechanical analysis confirmed a multiplanar mechanism, with knee loading patterning in the sagittal plane accompanied with dynamic valgus. More injuries occurred in the first half of matches.