Abstract :
[en] Introduction: Goalkeepers are important players in a football team. They have different physical characteristics and abilities than other players. Goalkeepers are different players, so they are exposed to different types of injuries. The aim of this article is to analyse and summarize the risks and injuries of football goalkeepers.
Methods: A literature search was conducted using a database (PubMed) and relevant keywords (in English and French) such as goalkeeper, prevention and football injuries. The majority of the articles used as references in our work were published in the last decade (1).
Results: In summary, studies have shown that current goalkeepers have a lower injury rate than field players (Table 1). In adults, the injury rate is 4.6 per 1000 hours played for goalkeepers and 7.6 per 1000 hours played for other players (p<0.001). The injury rate for female goalkeepers is 4.8 per 1000 hours played and for young players aged 12-18 years it is 6.5 per 1000 hours played (p<0.0001). This difference may be due to the fact that young players have less experience and technical skills than adults. A study by Kristenson et al. showed that goalkeepers have more upper limb injuries than other players, 1 per 1000 hours of play compared to 0.2 (p>0.001) (2). For goalkeepers, an upper limb injury (e.g. finger sprain) will penalise them much more than an outfield player and their absence from the game will be longer (Table 2). Goalkeepers also have a higher rate of trunk and head injuries. The study also showed that injuries are more common during games (12.1 per 1000 hours played) than during training (3.5 per 1000 hours played) and that goalkeepers are more likely to be injured during the pre-season due to the accumulation of training and the lack of physical preparation of players. Goalkeepers are more likely to be injured by non-contact mechanisms, such as sprinting, passing and shooting at goal, but also have a higher risk of injury from contact with objects, such as goalposts or the ball.
The quality of the playing surface was also a factor, with artificial turf being associated with a higher injury rate than natural turf (88.5% versus 11.5% for acute and overuse injuries, p<0.0001). Artificial turf is known to be harder, less forgiving and less stable than natural grass, which may increase the risk of injury to players, particularly goalkeepers who are more likely to dive and make contact with the ground. In addition, the most common types of injury on artificial turf are ligament sprains, bruises and abrasions. However, it is worth mentioning that despite the higher injury rate associated with artificial turf, it has several advantages, such as the ability to withstand heavy use and the possibility of playing in all weather conditions, which makes it a popular choice for many football clubs and organisations.
Conclusion: Goalkeepers have fewer injuries overall than field players but more upper limb injuries, which is related to their sporting demands. These observations open up perspectives on the prevention of goalkeeper-specific injuries.
