UEFA•Medicine Matters studies key issues

Specific ways of protecting the health and fitness of football players take pride of place in the latest edition of UEFA•Medicine Matters, UEFA's official publication on the key topic of medical issues within the game.

Articles appear on the design of football boots and their studs, and the topic of concussion – both of which relate directly to UEFA's key objective of protecting the health of players on and off the pitch. "This edition will continue to look forward, focusing on issues of interest from the front line of elite football medicine," says the UEFA Medical Committee chairman, Dr Michel D'Hooghe, in his editorial column. "Issues which doctors are confronted with on a daily basis and affect the health of the players competing in our beautiful game."

UEFA Medical Committee member Professor Andrea Ferretti contributes an article entitled "Boots, Studs and Injuries in Football", in which he explains that the majority of injuries that occur during matches and training are not contact-related, and do not occur when a player is tackled or touched by another player. "Most non-contact-related lower limb injuries in football occur while running, turning pivoting, landing following a jump or shooting," says Prof. Ferretti. "In all of these situations, one foot is planted on the ground while the body turns either clockwise or anti-clockwise."

Prof. Ferretti explains the history of football boots and studs, and the various types that are available for different types of ground and artificial turf. He expresses the view that there has been little research published on the importance of footwear in football. "Knowledge of the effect that different types of boot and studs have on muscles, tendons and joint stress is of paramount importance for the prevention of major football injuries. Although major manufacturers continue to release new models, they seem to be focusing solely on aesthetics, rather than players' safety and efficiency."

In his article, Prof. Ferretti concludes that studs and boots constitute a key factor in both the performance and safety of players. Boots should also provide proper grip to keep a player well-balanced, as well as being sufficiently flexible to absorb excessive loads and stresses, which might otherwise result in a player being seriously injured.

The important issue of concussion and head injuries in football is addressed by another UEFA Medical Committee member, Dr Ioannis Economides. He explains the various facets and symptoms of concussion, and how a team physician should deal with a player in such circumstances in terms of treatment and diagnosis.

New rules relating to head injuries and concussion have been incorporated in all UEFA competition regulations, following their approval by the UEFA Executive Committee last September. In the event of a suspected concussion, the referee stops the game for up to three minutes, to allow the injured player to be assessed by the team doctor. A player will only be allowed to continue playing on specific confirmation by the team doctor to the referee of the player's fitness to carry on.

UEFA•Medicine Matters also covers the recent UEFA Elite Club Injury Study seminar in Nyon. The study represents a vital source of information on injuries specific to football – as well as other matters of mutual interest to team doctors. The meeting in January saw discussions on concussion, training loads in relation to injury and the importance of good communication between the medical team and coaching staff. "The study is a key part of UEFA's drive to develop elite football performance in a way that is safe and healthy for players," says Professor Jan Ekstrand, founder and director of the study.

In his lead article, Michel D'Hooghe welcomes the impact of the Football Doctor Education Programme (FDEP), in which medical knowledge is being transmitted and cascaded down throughout UEFA's 54 member associations at workshops across the continent. "It is to the great credit of our member associations that this process has been so well supported," he said. "It is my hope that the initiative will be taken up by more and more associations in the future."

Finally, Dr D'Hooghe also draws attention to a major improvement to UEFA's anti-doping programme which will be implemented for the 2015/16 season. "In the year that sees the introduction of the new 2015 World Anti-Doping Code, UEFA will become one of the first anti-doping organisations in the world to introduce a steroid profiling programme as part of its annual anti-doping programme.

"UEFA firmly believes that protecting players is a matter not only of health and fitness, but also of protecting their right to win cleanly," Dr D'Hooghe stresses. "This will give UEFA a vital new tool with which to deter and detect the misuse of steroids in football."