Background and aim of the thesis
The football referee, assisted by two assistant referees, has to ensure that the players follow the laws of the game. Scientific studies on physiological aspects (training, match performance) referees are available, but there is a lack of knowledge on the injuries and physical problems in this group of athletes. Considering their match demands (a international referee may cover up to 12 km in a game), and the length of their careers (top international referees are older than 40 years old), the officials are exposed to a certain risk of injury. The aim of the thesis „Injuries and musculoskeletal complaints in football referees“ was to document the injury profile and the amount of complaints in football referees of different levels. The project was funded by the FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre (F-MARC), Zürich, Switzerland.

 

Participants and methods
The referees and assistant referees who participated in four studies were: the male Swiss elite referees (n=55, season 2005/06), the male referee selection (n=123) for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the female referee selection (n=81) for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2007, and a random sample (n=489) of Swiss referees of all levels of play (season 2005/06). A specific questionnaire (related to injury history and complaints) was used during the retrospective survey in these four groups, while a phone interview (based on the same questionnaire) was conducted among the referees of alls levels. Additionally, during the two World Cups, injury data were documented.

 

Results
As expected, the football referees (as they are not “fighting” for the ball) do not suffer from contact injuries.  However the risk for non-contact injury can be estimated to be similar or slightly lower than that of a football player. Moreover, a high percentage of referees with musculoskeletal complaints were found across studies. There were no statistical differences between male and female referees, between referees and assistant referees, and between referees of different levels. The most common injuries were posterior thigh muscle strains, calf muscle strains, and ankle sprains, while the most frequent locations of complaints were low back, posterior thigh, knee, calf and Achilles tendon.

 

Based on these findings, considering the physiological demands and the length of a referee’s career, injury prevention programs should be developed and implemented in the training routine of football referees.

Mario Bizzini (02.06.1963) is born in Corzoneso (Switzerland). He obtained his Bachelors degree in physical therapy at the Leukerbad Physiotherapy School, Switzerland (1988), and earned a Master of Science in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, USA (2001). Mario started his PhD in 2006, and has been supervised by Professor Roald Bahr (Oslo) and Professor Jiri Dvorak (Zürich).

 

Evaluation committee
Leder: Grethe Myklebust, Associate professor, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences
1. opponent:  Professor Jon Karlsson, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University
2. opponent:  Professor  Carlo Castagna, School of Sports and Exercise Sciences,  University of Rome Tor Vergata

 

Programme
10.15 - 11.00   Trial lecture: “Treatment modalities of Achilles Tendinopathy – what is the Evidence?”

13.00 – 16.00   Dissertation

The trial lecture and the dissertation will be streamed live.