ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the epidemiology of injuries in various populations of elite soccer players. Readers are oriented to the terms, concepts, and methodologies commonly used in epidemiological studies. This briefing forms the basis for subsequent descriptions of injury incidence, and severity among elite soccer players of various ages, throughout the chapter. Existing empirical evidence is presented, and agent (mechanistic), host (intrinsic), and environmental (extrinsic) factors associated with injury risk and outcomes are identified. Explanations of previously observed injury-related patterns among elite soccer players are separated by age (youth, collegiate, professional). These discussions are also further separated by sex, and sex-[Q3]differences noted in the literature are expanded upon. Special attention is paid to discussing the application of injury epidemiology to injury prevention efforts. The evolution of the science in this area, and gaps in the existing literature are particularly examined. Finally, the role of epidemiological studies, and evidence in further understanding injuries among elite soccer players moving forward, is contextualized.
