Injuries Significantly Contribute to Career End in Professional Male Footballers
Overview
This study demonstrates that injuries, particularly knee and ankle injuries, are the primary medical reasons for career termination among professional male football players. Retired players who ended their careers due to injury exhibit higher rates of osteoarthritis, ongoing symptoms such as pain and instability, and increased use of analgesics and assistive devices compared to those who retired for non-medical reasons.
Background
Football is the most popular sport worldwide and is associated with a high incidence of injuries, especially during matches affecting the lower extremities. Injuries not only cause time loss and impact team performance but may also lead to long-term consequences like osteoarthritis, influencing players' careers and quality of life. Despite extensive research on injury patterns and rehabilitation, the direct impact of injuries on career termination and post-retirement health remains underexplored. This study aims to fill that gap by analyzing injury-related career endings and subsequent health status in retired professional male football players.
Data Highlights
Parameter
Group 1 (Injury-related retirement)
Group 2 (Non-medical retirement)
p-value
Number of injuries per player
Significantly higher
Lower
<0.001
Knee injuries
155 (23.8%)
41 (13.3%)
<0.001
Ankle injuries
67 (10.3%)
18 (5.8%)
<0.001
Osteoarthritis prevalence
58 (79.5%)
18 (41.9%)
<0.001
Knee osteoarthritis
Significantly higher
Lower
0.001
Use of analgesics
Higher
Lower
0.01
Symptoms of pain and instability
Higher
Lower
<0.001
Depression symptoms
Higher
Lower
0.002
Post-retirement sports activity
Lower football activity
Higher football activity
0.003
Key Findings
Medical issues, especially injuries, are the most significant reason for ending professional football careers (p ≤ 0.001).
Players retiring due to injury had significantly more total injuries, with knee and ankle injuries strongly associated with injury-related retirement.
Post-retirement, injured players showed higher prevalence of osteoarthritis, particularly knee osteoarthritis, correlating with symptoms like pain, instability, and joint effusion.
Players retiring due to injury used more analgesics and assistive devices and reported more symptoms such as pain and instability.
Depression symptoms were significantly more common in players who retired due to injury compared to those who retired for non-medical reasons.
After retirement, players who ended careers due to injury engaged less in football activities than those who retired for other reasons.
Clinical Implications
These findings highlight the critical need for targeted injury prevention and management strategies in professional football to reduce career-ending injuries, particularly to the knee and ankle. Post-retirement monitoring and interventions should address osteoarthritis and mental health issues, including depression, to improve long-term quality of life for former players. Clinicians should consider comprehensive rehabilitation and support plans that extend beyond active career phases.
Conclusion
Injuries significantly influence the timing and reasons for career termination in professional male football players and are associated with adverse long-term health outcomes, including osteoarthritis and depression. Enhanced preventive and rehabilitative efforts are essential to mitigate these impacts and support players during and after their careers.
