The FIFA 11 programme reduces the costs associated with ankle and hamstring injuries in amateur Spanish football players: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of the "Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) 11" injury prevention programme for ankle and hamstring injuries. This retrospective cohort study included eighty-four male amateur football players aged 18-40 years. The exposed group performed the FIFA 11 protocol twice a week throughout the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons; the unexposed group performed the usual training during the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 seasons. Lateral ankle ligament and hamstring injuries were recorded over the whole study period. We compared the mean costs associated with lateral ankle ligament and hamstring injuries in the two groups. The mean cost per player and lateral ankle injury was EUR 928 in the unexposed group versus EUR 647 in the exposed group (p = 0.19). The mean cost of hamstring injury per player was EUR 1271 in the unexposed group versus EUR 742 in the exposed group (p = 0.028). The mean total cost per player was EUR 2199 in the unexposed group versus EUR 1273 in the exposed group (p = 0.008). We concluded that the use of the FIFA 11 injury prevention programme reduced both the direct and indirect costs associated with lateral ankle ligament and hamstring injuries.