High-speed running and injury risk in soccer: a systematic review

TL;DR

This paper reviews how high-speed running in soccer might be linked to injury risk, finding that sudden increases in running load may raise injury chances, though results are uncertain due to study limitations.

Contribution

The study systematically reviews the relationship between high-speed running exposure and injury risk in soccer, highlighting the role of sudden load changes.

Findings

Sudden increases in high-speed running or sprinting load are often linked to higher injury risk.

Absolute weekly high-speed running volume showed inconsistent injury associations.

Most studies had high risk of bias, limiting certainty in conclusions.

Abstract

High-speed running (HSR) and sprint exposure are monitored in soccer, but associations with injury are uncertain.

To synthesis evidence on associations between HSR exposure and injury risk/occurrence, and to explore heterogeneity.

PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were searched. No date or language restrictions were applied. Eligibility criteria included observational studies in soccer quantifying training and/or match HSR/sprinting using microtechnology and reporting extractable associations with injury outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed with QUIPS. Narrative synthesis was undertaken without meta-analysis.

From 3,824 records, 22 studies were included. Most were professional/elite and used GPS with absolute speed thresholds. Outcomes mainly involved time-loss or non-contact soft-tissue injuries. Across studies using relative change measures (e.g., acute:chronic contrasts or injury-week vs. control comparisons), short-horizon increases or disproportionate HSR/sprint exposure relative to recent history more often aligned with higher injury risk. In contrast, studies analyzing absolute weekly HSR volume more frequently reported negligible or inconsistent associations within typical exposure ranges, with no reproducible dose threshold emerging. Overall risk of bias was high in 20/22 studies.

Sudden increases in HSR/sprint-related load may be associated with injury, but heterogeneity and bias limit certainty and preclude definitive thresholds.

OSF (osf.io/wquh2).

Figures