Effect of poor cooperation between coaching and medical staff on muscle re-injury in professional football over 15 seasons

Figures & data

Table 1 Season, team, player, injury, and perceived level team cooperation data for a professional football club in the United Arab Emirates 2002–2017

Season	Player squad size	Mean age (years)	Total injuries	Indirect muscle injuries	Indirect muscle re-injuries	Perceived cooperation medical/coaching staff
2002/2003	22	27	65	22	1	Normal
2003/2004	22	25	63	19	0	Normal
2004/2005	23	24	62	20	0	Excellent
2005/2006^a	23	25	79	31	5	Poor
2006/2007	22	26	63	20	2	Normal
2007/2008	23	25	62	21	0	Excellent
2008/2009^a	23	25	75	33	5	Poor
2009/2010	25	26	60	21	1	Normal
2010/2011	22	24	53	22	0	Normal
2011/2012	23	25	57	19	1	Normal
2012/2013	23	25	62	20	1	Excellent
2013/2014	23	26	61	21	0	Excellent
2014/2015	26	25	59	19	1	Normal
2015/2016	26	26	61	17	0	Excellent
2016/2017^a	23	25	77	33	4	Poor
All seasons		25	959	338	21

Note: ^aDenotes a season when there was a change of head coach.

Table 2 Site and severity of injuries related to poor cooperation between coaching and medical teams when the coaching team completely overruled the medical team’s advice

No. injuries (season)	1st injury	Re-injury	Club decision
5 (2005/2006)	1 Contracture of the biceps femoris 1 Contracture of the gastrocnemius 1 Grade I strain of the rectus femoris 1 Grade I strain of the biceps femoris 1 Grade I strain of the adductors	1 Grade I strain 1 Grade II strain with hematoma 1 Grade II with hematoma 1 Grade II strain 1 Grade II strain with hematoma	All coaching staff changed mid-season (poor technical results)
5 (2008/2009)	2 Contracture of the biceps femoris 2 Grade I strain of the adductors 1 Grade I strain of the rectus femoris	1 Grade I strain 1 Grade II strain with hematoma 1 Grade II strain with hematoma 1 Grade II strain 1 Grade II strain with hematoma	Physical (strength and conditioning) coach changed mid-season (decision of the head coach)
4 (2016/2017)	1 Contracture of the biceps femoris 1 Contracture of the semimembranosus 1 Contracture of adductors 1 Grade I strain of the rectus femoris	1 Grade II strain with hematoma 1 Grade II strain with hematoma 1 Grade II strain with hematoma 1 Grade II strain	All coaching staff changed mid-season (poor technical results)