Match schedule variability, not volume, is associated with severe muscle injury in elite football

Key Points

• To investigate the relationship between match schedule variability and the risk of severe muscle injuries in elite football players.
• Examined match schedules and injury reports
• Analyzed injury occurrences in relation to schedule patterns
• Compared injury rates with volume of matches played
• Increased schedule variability correlated with a higher incidence of severe muscle injuries
• Volume of matches played did not significantly influence injury rates
• Load smoothing emerged as a vital strategy for injury prevention

Abstract