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. 2021 Sep 27;9(9):23259671211024199.
doi: 10.1177/23259671211024199. eCollection 2021 Sep.

Return to Play and Player Performance After Achilles Tendon Rupture in UEFA Professional Soccer Players: A Matched-Cohort Analysis of Players From 1999 to 2018

Enrico M Forlenza  1 , Ophelie Z Lavoie-Gagne  1 , Yining Lu  1 , Connor C Diaz  1 , Jorge Chahla  1 , Brian Forsythe  1
Affiliations

Return to Play and Player Performance After Achilles Tendon Rupture in UEFA Professional Soccer Players: A Matched-Cohort Analysis of Players From 1999 to 2018

Enrico M Forlenza et al. Orthop J Sports Med. .

Abstract

Background: Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) is a potentially career-ending injury in professional athletes. Limited information exists regarding return to play (RTP) in professional soccer players after this injury.

Purpose: To determine the RTP rate and time in professional soccer players after ATR and to evaluate player performance relative to matched controls.

Study design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: We evaluated 132 professional soccer players who suffered an ATR between 1999 and 2018. These athletes were matched 2:1 to uninjured controls by position, age, season of injury, seasons played, and height. We collected information on the date of injury, the date of RTP, and player performance metrics (minutes played, games played, goals scored, assists made, and points per game) from official team websites, public injury reports, and press releases. Changes in performance metrics for the 4 years after the season of injury were compared with metrics 1 season before injury. Univariate comparisons were performed using independent-sample, 2-group t tests and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests when normality of distributions was violated.

Results: The mean age at ATR was 27.49 ± 4.06 years, and the mean time to RTP was 5.07 ± 2.61 months (18.19 ± 10.96 games). The RTP rate was 71% for the season after injury and 78% for return at any timepoint. Overall, 9% of the injured players experienced a rerupture during the study period. Compared with controls, the injured players played significantly less (-6.77 vs -1.81 games [P < .001] and -560.17 vs -171.17 minutes [P < .05]) and recorded fewer goals (-1.06 vs -0.29 [P < .05]) and assists (-0.76 vs -0.02 [P < .05]) during the season of their Achilles rupture. With the exception of midfielders, there were no significant differences in play time or performance metrics between injured and uninjured players at any postinjury timepoint.

Conclusion: Soccer players who suffered an ATR had a 78% RTP rate, with a mean RTP time of 5 months. Injured players played less and demonstrated inferior performance during the season of injury. With the exception of midfielders, players displayed no significant differences in play time or performance during any of the 4 postinjury seasons.

Keywords: Achilles tendon rupture; Union of European Football Associations; player performance; return to play; soccer.

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Conflict of interest statement

One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: J.C. has received research support from Arthrex; consulting fees from Stryker, Smith & Nephew, Linvatec, and DePuy; education support from Medwest, Smith & Nephew, and Arthrex; nonconsulting fees from Smith & Nephew and Arthrex; and speaking fees from Linvatec. B.F. has received research support from Arthrex, Smith & Nephew, and Stryker and royalties and financial support from Elsevier; and has stock in Jace Medical. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto.

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