As previous literature updates, I have performed a PubCrawler search looking for football articles in NCBI Medline (PubMed) and GenBank databases.

Following studies were retrieved for this week:

1 Is Plasma Total Antioxidant Capacity Elevated in Professional Soccer Athletes?: A Cross-Sectional Study

Reference: Sports (Basel). 2026 Jan 23;14(2):45. doi: 10.3390/sports14020045.
Authors: Tomoharu Mochizuki, Takashi Ushiki, Hikaru Kanome, Takumu Tsuchida, Mami Osawa, Misato Sato, Hajime Ishiguro, Tatsuya Suwabe, Satoshi Watanabe, Go Omori, Noriaki Yamamoto, Tomoyuki Kawase
Download link: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/14/2/45
Summary: Owing to its ability to promote early recovery, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a popular regenerative therapy for treating sports injuries. However, its scientific basis has not yet been fully established. To bridge this gap, we focused on systemic antioxidant capacity, which suppresses exacerbated inflammation. Plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in male professional soccer athletes (n = 30) was assessed alongside body composition measurements and compared with that of non-athletes (n = 31). Metabolic and inflammatory conditions were examined using erythrocyte sedimentation rate and plasma lactate, glucose, and protein levels. TAC levels were similar in both groups. Moderate correlations were observed between TAC and body fat percentage, skeletal muscle percentage, and basal metabolic rate in the control group, but not in the pro-athlete group, which exhibited superior body composition indices. These findings suggest that TAC levels may not directly influence PRP therapy in athletes. However, when compared with TAC levels calculated using correlations obtained in controls, the measured TAC levels (329.3 mM) were substantially higher than the compensated levels (62.5 mM for basal metabolic rate) in pro-athletes. This analytical approach indicates that TAC may theoretically be elevated to higher levels in pro-athletes when evaluated using non-athlete-based scales.

2 Rerupture rate after ACL reconstruction in adolescent female soccer players: a case series

Reference: Knee. 2026 Feb 24:60:104407. doi: 10.1016/j.knee.2026.104407. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Pedro Álvarez Díaz, Damaris Barrueto Meza, Paula Velasco Alcalde, Alfred Ferré-Aniorte, David Barastegui Fernandez, Gilbert Steinbacher, Miguel Vázquez Gómez, Iker Ayesterán Calero, Esther Sala Barat, Ramón Cugat Bertomeu
Summary: Evaluate the epidemiological profile, failure rate, and RTP in a highly homogeneous population of female soccer players under 18 years of age, all with Tegner activity level 9, who underwent ACL reconstruction using a bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) autograft. We conducted a retrospective, single-center study including surgeries performed between October 2015 and February 2023. The study cohort was intentionally homogeneous: all participants were female soccer players under 18 years of age, actively competing with a Tegner activity level of 9. A total of 50 players were included. Mean age at surgery was 16.68 years (SD 1.15); mean BMI was 21.52 (SD 2.86. Six players (12%) suffered ipsilateral reruptures, all revised using Achilles tendon allografts with Lemaire-type lateral plasty. Among the 88% who returned to play (44/50): 18% returned at a higher competitive level, 56% at the same level, and 14% at a lower level. The mean time to RTP was 10.69 months (SD 2.28). The series demonstrated an 88% return-to-play rate and a 12% ipsilateral re-rupture rate, despite the high functional demands of the cohort (Tegner level 9). These findings suggest that, within a consistent surgical and rehabilitation framework, favorable long-term results can be achieved in adolescent female athletes.

3 Test-retest reliability of kicking performance assessments over a 2-day interval in elite youth soccer players

Reference: PeerJ. 2026 Feb 17:14:e20806. doi: 10.7717/peerj.20806. eCollection 2026.
Authors: Jeppe Carstensen, Thomas Bull Andersen
Download link: https://peerj.com/articles/20806.pdf
Summary: Reliable assessment of kicking performance is critical for monitoring technical development in youth soccer players. This study examined the reliability of kicking performance assessments in skilled youth soccer players aged 14-18, focusing on maximum ball speed and accuracy. Using a test-retest design, fifty-three players from a Danish Super League academy completed standardised kicking tests on two occasions separated by 2 days. Maximum ball speed was assessed during penalty-style kicks with a stationary ball, while accuracy was assessed through target-directed kicks with a rolling ball. Two-way mixed-effects intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and limits of agreement (LoA) were used to assess reliability. Results indicated good reliability for maximum ball speed (ICC = 0.87; LoA = [-2.1, 2.5] m/s), consistent with previous studies. Conversely, kicking accuracy demonstrated poor to moderate reliability (ICC = 0.00-0.66; LoA = [-0.46, 0.48] m). Stratified analyses revealed the highest accuracy ICC within the U15 group. Exploratory error ellipse analyses suggested potential utility in assessing kicking distribution, showing good reliability for ellipse angle (ICC = 0.80; LoA = [-0.98, 0.92] rad), though other parameters displayed low reliability. These findings highlight the strengths and limitations of soccer technical assessments. While maximum ball speed tests are highly reliable, kicking accuracy assessments remain problematic and require methodological refinement to improve reliability. Future research should incorporate advanced analytical techniques to enhance test reliability and consistency in elite athlete evaluations.

4 Identifying Training Load Variables for Elite Youth Soccer Through a Conceptual Framework

Reference: Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2026 Feb 19:1-7. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2025-0253. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Darragh Connolly, Sean Stolp, Ermanno Rampinini, Aaron J Coutts
Summary: The aim of this study was to guide the selection of load variables assessed within an elite-level academy player monitoring program through the application of a conceptual framework based upon previous literature and expert opinion. The variables identified by the framework were then subjected to a principal component analysis (PCA) to help verify the consistency of metrics retained across different age groups, the amount of variance described, and differences between absolute and relative load measures. Training and match data recorded by 145 elite youth soccer players from Under 15 to Under 19 squads were assessed across 2 full competitive seasons. The conceptual framework identified 16 metrics for the absolute PCA and 14 for the relative PCA. The results identified 3 to 4 components that contained distinct themes that were consistent across the different age groups assessed and aligned closely with the constructs of load identified through the conceptual framework. The variance of load described by different components (13.8%-29.3%) was similar across each age group. These findings indicate that a myriad of factors is required to describe the variance in load experienced by elite youth soccer players and supports the inclusion of both external and internal loads. The general themes identified by the conceptual framework and retained by the PCA can aid practitioners to identify variables that should be incorporated in youth soccer players load monitoring.

5 Salivary response to training in young professional football players

Reference: Br Dent J. 2026 Feb;240(4):251-256. doi: 10.1038/s41415-025-9204-3. Epub 2026 Feb 27.
Authors: Antoon J M Ligtenberg, Ioannis Kouvaras, Henny Solleveld, Kamran Nazmi, Marja L Laine, Luc Vanden Bossche, Sergio Bizzarro
Summary: Aims Saliva is a promising body fluid for studying physical condition. This study investigates whether saliva composition changes after training of professional football players.Materials and methods Saliva was collected as oral rinse from professional football players of two under-21 Belgian teams (n = 36) before and after a 2.5-hour regular training session. Oral health parameters were also measured. Cortisol, ammonium, α-amylase activity, and lactate were determined as biomarkers for stress and fatigue. Other biomarkers included protein concentration, protease activity, secretory immunoglobulinA (sIgA), MUC5B, and the electrolytes sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Biomarker concentrations were determined by standard laboratory methods and relative concentrations (mg/mg protein) were calculated.Results Cortisol (p <0.001), ammonium (p = 0.012), MUC5B (p = 0.002), protease activity (p <0.001) and sodium (p = 0.002) were significantly increased after training. Furthermore, relative concentrations of MUC5B (p = 0.002), sIgA (p = 0.006) and protease activity (p <0.001) were also significantly increased. Football players showed high incidence of caries, bleeding on probing, tooth wear and increased periodontal probing pocket depths.Conclusions Football training leads to increased levels of cortisol and ammonium in saliva and changes both protein and mineral composition of saliva. In addition, young professional football players showed suboptimal oral health. It remains to be investigated how changes in saliva composition affect oral and general health.

6 Effect of the FIFA 11+ on anterior cruciate ligament injury incidence rates in collegiate female football players over three consecutive seasons

Reference: J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2026 Mar;66(3):400-409. doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.25.17071-0.
Authors: Hirohisa Magoshi, Takuma Hoshiba, Miwako Tohyama, Norikazu Hirose, Toru Fukubayashi
Summary: This non-randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the preventive effects of the FIFA 11+ on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury incidence rates in collegiate female football players in terms of intervention duration (one-season and over three consecutive seasons). A total of 763 collegiate female football players from seven teams belonging to Kanto University Women’s Football Association Division 1 during 2013-2015 were included in the study. At the study’s start (2013), 235 players from seven teams were assigned to the FIFA 11+ intervention (four teams, n = 115) and control groups (three teams, n = 120). The intervention period was from 2013 to 2015, and the allocated players were followed over three seasons. The one-season effect of the FIFA 11+ was investigated after each season, and the effect of continuous intervention was assessed in players who participated in all three seasons (N.=66 and 62 from the intervention and control groups). The one-season intervention showed no significant differences between the two groups in any season. In contrast, the intervention over three consecutive seasons showed a significantly lower incidence rate of ACL injuries in the intervention group compared to the control group (noncontact injuries: hazard ratio, 0.192 [95% CI, 0.041-0.896]; P=0.036). These findings suggest that the FIFA 11+ is an effective program for ACL injury prevention in collegiate female football players, and the beneficial effect can be expected when the program is implemented for at least three consecutive seasons.

7 Automatic Estimation of Football Possession via Improved YOLOv8 Detection and DBSCAN-Based Team Classification

Reference: Sensors (Basel). 2026 Feb 14;26(4):1252. doi: 10.3390/s26041252.
Authors: Rong Guo, Yucheng Zeng, Rong Deng, Yawen Lei, Yonglin Che, Lin Yu, Jianpeng Zhang, Xiaobin Xu et al.
Download link: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/26/4/1252
Summary: Recent developments in computer vision have significantly enhanced the automation and objectivity of sports analytics. This paper proposes a novel deep learning-based framework for estimating football possession directly from broadcast video, eliminating the reliance on manual annotations or event-based data that are often labor-intensive, subjective, and temporally coarse. The framework incorporates two structurally improved object detection models: YOLOv8-P2S3A for football detection and YOLOv8-HWD3A for player detection. These models demonstrate superior accuracy compared to baseline detectors, achieving 79.4% and 71.1% validation average precision, respectively, while maintaining low computational latency. Team identification is accomplished through unsupervised DBSCAN clustering on jersey color features, enabling robust and label-free team assignment across diverse match scenarios. Object trajectories are maintained via the Norfair multi-object tracking algorithm, and a temporally aware refinement module ensures accurate estimation of ball possession durations. Extensive experiments were conducted on a dataset comprising 20 full-match Video clips. The proposed system achieved a root mean square error (RMSE) of 4.87 in possession estimation, outperforming all evaluated baselines, including YOLOv10n (RMSE: 5.12) and YOLOv11 (RMSE: 5.17), with a substantial improvement over YOLOv6n (RMSE: 12.73). These results substantiate the effectiveness of the proposed framework in enhancing the precision, efficiency, and automation of football analytics, offering practical value for coaches, analysts, and sports scientists in professional settings.

8 Session and drill-specific physical characteristics of youth women’s football training

Reference: J Sports Sci. 2026 Feb 26:1-20. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2026.2637051. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Alice Harkness-Armstrong, Thomas Adams, Tracy Lewis, Sally Waterworth, Ruth Lowry, Naomi Datson
Summary: This study quantified and compared session and drill-specific physical characteristics between U10, U12, U14 and U16 youth women’s footballers. Data were collected during 80 training sessions using 10 Hz GPS, totalling 825 training observations and 2298 drill-specific observations from 116 players representing two of the English Football Association’s Emerging Talent Centres. Linear mixed modelling estimated session and drill-specific; total distance (TD), high-speed running (HSR; >3.00 m ∙ s-1), very high-speed running (VHSR; >4.83 m ∙ s-1) and sprinting (SPR; >5.76 m ∙ s-1) distances (m), maximum velocity (m ∙ s-1) and number of accelerations and decelerations (>1 m ∙ s-2, >2 m ∙ s-2, >3 m ∙ s-2). During sessions, U16s covered more TD than U14s, whilst both U14s and U16s covered greater HSR, VHSR and SPR distances compared to U10s and U12s, and U10s performed more accelerations (>1 m ∙ s-2) than U12s and U14s and more decelerations (>1 m ∙ s-2) than all other age groups. All age groups had higher physical outputs during SSGs compared to possession and technical drills. Differences in session physical characteristics observed between age groups and between and within age groups for drill-specific physical characteristics, highlight that physical characteristics during training are age- and drill-dependent within youth women’s football. These findings have practical implications for informing coaching and talent development practices within youth women’s football.

9 Intra-Rater Reliability and Construct Validity of Hand-Held Dynamometry to Evaluate the Hip Adductor Squeeze Test in Elite Youth Football Players

Reference: Sports (Basel). 2026 Feb 3;14(2):53. doi: 10.3390/sports14020053.
Authors: Alexandros Stefanakis, Shane Gore, Christopher Hicks, Michael Mansfield, Matthew Willett
Download link: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/14/2/53
Summary: Hip and groin injuries are common in elite football, and reduced isometric adductor strength has been identified as a key risk factor. Therefore, reliable and valid field-based methods for assessing hip adduction strength are essential for effective monitoring and injury prevention. This study aimed to evaluate the intra-rater reliability and construct validity of a hand-held dynamometer (HHD) compared with the ForceFrame (FFS) during the adductor squeeze test in elite youth football players. Thirty-eight male academy athletes completed two testing sessions four weeks apart, performing maximal isometric adductor squeezes using both devices. Relative reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and construct validity was evaluated using paired t-tests, Bland-Altman analysis, and linear regression. The HHD demonstrated excellent intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.82-0.95) and the FFS showed good reliability (ICC = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.71-0.92). Paired t-tests revealed no significant differences between devices, and regression analysis confirmed no proportional bias, indicating strong agreement and construct validity. These findings demonstrate that the HHD provides valid and reliable measurements of isometric hip adduction strength and may serve as a practical, portable, and cost-effective alternative to fixed dynamometry for field-based strength assessment, rehabilitation monitoring, and injury-prevention screening in elite football environments.

10 Maximizing ball movement unpredictability in association football: A Rényi entropy-based approach to optimizing event distribution randomness

Reference: PLoS One. 2026 Feb 25;21(2):e0326800. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0326800. eCollection 2026.
Authors: Ishara Bandara, Sergiy Shelyag, Sutharshan Rajasegarar, Dan Dwyer, Eun-Jin Kim, Maia Angelova
Download link: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0326800
Summary: Modern football prioritizes team play and tactical strategies over individual brilliance. However, its low-scoring nature makes evaluating team performance challenging. Unpredictable ball movement enhances offensive play while complicating defensive setups. To better capture this dynamic nature, authors‘ prior work has proposed entropy-based time-series metric to assess unpredictable ball movement by quantifying Spatial Event Distribution Randomness (EDRan). However, some teams may prefer to dominate specific areas with unpredictability, while others utilize the entire field. Existing literature has not examined whether emphasizing dominant (frequently used field regions for ball movement) or considering all regions equally, including rarely used areas, is a more effective approach for computing randomness in event distribution. Moreover, existing research has not investigated the underlying patterns of event distribution randomness, particularly how these variations differ between winning and losing teams, both in terms of overall field coverage and concentration within dominant regions. This study addresses these gaps by analyzing event distribution randomness using Rényi entropy with varying alpha values ([Formula: see text]0).Correlation analysis indicated that assigning equal weight to all field regions, including rarely used areas, with Max entropy ([Formula: see text]alpha) was most strongly associated with match-winning performance. In men’s data, machine learning models trained with [Formula: see text]alpha and 0.5 achieved statistically significant improvements over models trained with the traditionally used Shannon entropy ([Formula: see text]alpha). These results suggest that unpredictability distributed across the entire field, maximizing the use of diverse regions, is more strongly associated with success than randomness restricted to dominant areas. The best-performing model, obtained with [Formula: see text]alpha, significantly outperformed both the baseline and existing models in the literature, achieving an accuracy of 80.61% in predicting match winners.

11 Penalty kick or not? Differences in the interpretation of handball incidents in professional association football

Reference: PLoS One. 2026 Feb 25;21(2):e0341822. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0341822. eCollection 2026.
Authors: Tobias Bauch, Daniel Leyhr, David Schmidt, Daniel Brinkmann, Oliver Höner
Download link: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0341822
Summary: Handball decisions in the penalty area remain one of the most controversial topics in professional association football, yet they are underexplored in sports science. The purpose of this research was to establish a foundation for understanding the controversy by examining its underlying causes. Two video-based studies quantified how key stakeholders interpret handball incidents and how closely these interpretations align with Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) guidelines. Study 1 involved referees active in German men’s professional football (n = 154) who judged 30 incidents. Study 2 repeated the procedure with professional coaches (n = 31) and players (n = 46) using 18 incidents. Outcomes were Accuracy (accordance with UEFA), Strictness (percentage of incidents deemed punishable), Consensus (within- and between-group agreement), and Reasoning (primary reason for a decision). Referees reached 84.0% Accuracy, which differed by role, performance level, and handball category. Strictness among referees was lower compared to UEFA (42.9% vs. 50%). Coaches and players demonstrated lower Accuracy (63.8% and 67.5%) and Strictness (36.0% and 33.9%) than referees, resulting in significant differences in Consensus across Stakeholder Groups in 11 out of 18 incidents. Reasoning also diverged as referees preferred Naturalness, whereas coaches and players emphasised Avoidability and Impact. These findings reveal systematic differences between governing body guidelines, referee decision-making, and practitioner expectations. The results can inform educational measures and discussions on potential revisions to the handball law. Clearer and more objective criteria, jointly agreed by key stakeholders, are required to improve the consistency and acceptance of handball decisions.

12 Efficient talent identification in women’s football: A ranking-based approach for goal scoring analysis

Reference: PLoS One. 2026 Feb 24;21(2):e0342115. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0342115. eCollection 2026.
Authors: Songyi Song, Hee-Su Kim
Summary: Individual goal-scoring analysis in women’s football faces severe class imbalance and limited scouting resources, where classification metrics alone do not capture operational efficiency. We analyzed 2,535 non-goalkeeper player-match observations from the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup (736 unique players) with 51 performance features, excluding match-outcome variables to emphasize individual actions. Using nested cross-validation, LightGBM captured 79.4% of goal-scoring observations within the top 20% of ranked observations; an out-of-bag (OOB) bootstrap gains analysis yielded 73.9% capture at Top 20% (lift = 3.69x; 95% CI: 63.9%-84.3%). Permutation and SHAP consensus highlighted tactical availability (Total Offers) and combined technical/physical workload indicators (Passes Attempted, Jogging Distance, Top Speed). This proof-of-concept study shows that ranking-based evaluation improves scouting efficiency using basic match statistics, while thresholds and feature weights require validation in other competitive contexts.

13 Reliability of Lower-Limb Strength Tests According to Maturity Status in Young Male Elite Football Players

Reference: Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2026 Feb 23:1-9. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2025-0250. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Maxime Violin, Abd-Elbasset Abaïdia, Benjamin Barthélémy, Guillaume Ravé, Anthony J Blazevich, Sébastien Ratel
Summary: Lower-limb strength assessment is essential for talent identification, training program design, and return-to-play decisions. However, the influence of biological maturity on test reliability remains unclear, particularly in prepubertal players whose motor coordination is still developing. This study examined the test-retest reliability of dominant-limb abduction, adduction, and anterior and posterior chain tests in elite youth football players, and compared reliability across maturity stages and movement types. Seventy academy players were divided into 3 groups: 24 prepubertal, 18 pubertal, and 28 postpubertal. Following at least 2 familiarization sessions, players performed 5 maximal isometric strength tests on 2 occasions 1 week apart. The coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated for each test, and statistical comparisons between maturity groups were performed using the Modified Signed-Likelihood Ratio Test (for CVs) and Fisher Z transformation (for ICCs). Most tests demonstrated good to excellent reliability across all maturity levels (CV < 10%, ICC > .90). However, postpubertal players exhibited significantly lower CVs and higher ICCs than prepubertal players in several tests, particularly for polyarticular standing posterior chain movements (P < .05). No significant differences were observed between prepubertal and pubertal players. These results indicate that test reliability improves with biological maturity, likely due to enhanced motor coordination and movement control. Consequently, the reliability of lower-limb strength assessments is not interchangeable between maturity categories, and results should be interpreted with caution when used for talent identification or long-term player monitoring in elite youth football players.

14 Menstrual cycle knowledge, first- and second-hand experiences, personal opinions, and practices of players and staff from elite European women’s football clubs

Reference: Sci Med Footb. 2026 Feb 23:1-12. doi: 10.1080/24733938.2026.2634312. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Kirsty J Elliott-Sale, Emma Clausen, Claire Bloomfield
Summary: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, experiences, opinions, and practices of players and staff from elite European women’s football clubs on topics related to the menstrual cycle. Players (women only, n = 320) and staff (men n = 27, women n = 19) completed a bespoke questionnaire and 16 players (women only) and 15 staff (men n = 9, women n = 6) participated in semi-structured interviews. Players (women only, n = 305) provided their self-reported ovarian hormone status. Mean knowledge scores were 39% ± 19% and 47% ± 25% for players and staff, respectively. Among players and staff, 72% and 94%, respectively, stated that the menstrual cycle affected their own/players‘ performance. Hormonal contraceptives were reported to affect their own/players‘ performance by 39% of players and 57% of staff. The belief that the menstrual cycle affects sports performance in general was held by 91% of players and 97% of staff, while 70% of players and 80% of staff said the same for hormonal contraceptives. In terms of self-reported ovarian hormone status, 60% of players were naturally menstruating, 26% used hormonal contraceptives, and 14% disclosed menstrual irregularities. Our findings show that knowledge on topics related to the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives was low in both players and staff at elite European women’s football clubs. These data highlight that further credible education is warranted to empower players to make evidence-informed decisions about their health and performance and to equip staff to provide appropriate support.

15 Understanding player transitions in football through distributed situation awareness

Reference: Sci Med Footb. 2026 Feb 23:1-14. doi: 10.1080/24733938.2026.2634326. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Scott McLean, Tom Page, Paul Salmon, Barry Drust
Summary: Player transitions in football are critical for talent development and involve players transitioning to more experienced squads. While transitions provide many positive developmental opportunities for players, the increase in workload, demands, and pressures can potentially cause injury or wellbeing issues. Despite this, they remain an under-investigated area in football and there is limited knowledge on how best the transition process can be managed to prevent adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to develop a network-based model of player transitions between squads within a professional English football club, through the lens of Distributed Situation Awareness (DSA). The Event Analysis of Systemic Teamwork (EAST) framework was applied to describe and understand the interaction between transition tasks, performance staff, and required information during player transitions. Group model building, and semi-structured interviews with club performance staff were used to develop the EAST analyses. The findings demonstrate the complexity of player transitions, through the interaction of numerous tasks, performance staff, and required information sharing. Negative transition outcomes may result from failures in DSA during fast-paced, reactive situations where information sharing and error recovery are limited. Further, heavy reliance on key individuals, as well as limited involvement of the first team coaches in the transition process may be associated with potentially negative outcomes. The current findings will guide clubs in developing processes to reduce transition-related injuries and wellbeing issues and to increase positive outcomes for players and clubs.

16 Is Osgood-Schlatter’s associated with an increased risk of pars fracture? A retrospective exploratory study of male academy football players

Reference: J Sci Med Sport. 2026 Feb 12:S1440-2440(26)00055-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2026.01.020. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Sam Blanchard, Sinead Holden, Liam Dadd, Matthew Connery, Sean Cumming, Sean Williams
Download link: https://www.jsams.org/action/showPdf?pii=S1440-2440%2826%2900055-1
Summary: This retrospective exploratory cohort study investigated the association between Osgood-Schlatter disease and pars interarticularis fractures in elite male academy footballers. Among 341 players, those with a history of Osgood-Schlatter disease were over 19 times more likely to sustain a pars fracture (relative risk: 19.27). Findings suggest Osgood-Schlatter disease may act as a clinically observable risk marker for future spinal pathology. Early identification and management of Osgood-Schlatter disease could help identify those at risk of future pars injuries and may therefore help optimise player health and availability. Further prospective research is warranted to explore underlying biomechanical mechanisms.