What is a recurrence? The onset, frequency and time loss impact of recurrent calf muscle strain injuries in elite male Australian football players over a decade.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To evaluate the onset, frequency and time loss impact of recurrent calf muscle strain injuries in elite male Australian football players over a decade. To explore how outcomes are affected by alternative recurrence definitions.

Method

Calf muscle strain injuries were reported to the Soft Tissue Injury Registry of the Australian Football League (2014-2023). Cases were categorised as index versus recurrent injuries. Alternate recurrence definitions varied based on: (1) timing (ie, subsequent injuries occurring before or after full recovery (a return to full training) and (2) location (ie, subsequent injuries involving the same side but not necessarily same muscle vs only those confirmed to involve the same muscle).

Results

563 injuries in 359 players were eva

SUBMITTER: Green B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12410626 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature