1. The Associate Football Audit of Injuries in Professional Football (Seasons 1997/98-1998/1999)

  • Almost all Professional Clubs
  • Fully backed by The PFA.
  • Total support from Chairman of Clubs
  • 2 years study (Prospective)
  • Administration through FA Medical Education Centre
  • Pilots completed prior to research study launch
  • Weekly Audit Master Questionnaire designed
  • Player Injury Audit Questionnaire produced
  • Guidance notes for Competition produced

Notes:
a. Annual Specific Club Audit of Injury Reports forwarded to medical staff of clubs (2 years)
b. Each club (medical staff) has received a divisional audit of injury breakdown over the 2 seasons.

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2. Longtitudinal (Shortened Version)- An Audit of Injuries in Professional Football (Season 1999/2000- 2002/03)

Funding has been secured for an abridged version of The Audit of Injuries 2 year study in Professional Football (Season 1997/1998 to 1998/1999).

The funding has been secured for three years through The Joint FA/PFA Funding Mechanism.

Total Funding 2000 /2002 to 2002/2003 = £75,000

3. An Audit of Injuries Sustained in Academies of Football- Study

  • All Academies
  • In line with Medical Criteria Governing Football
  • Prospective Study
  • Commenced September 1999
  • Administration through FA Medical Education and Research Centre
  • Weekly Audit Master Questionnaire
  • Player Injury Audit Questionnaire
  • Guidance notes for Competition

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4. FA Orthopaedic Musculo-Skeletal Evaluation Academies- Prospective

  • All Academies (39) 8,500 young players
  • In line with medical criteria governing Football Academies
  • Prospective Study
  • Commenced January 1999
  • Administered through FA Medical and Research Centre
  • Bi-annual Player Questionnaire return (to set criteria)
  • Guidance notes for completion
  • Video production to aid practitioner
  • Standardised medical measuring/assessment equipment for each practitioner

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5 Specific Medical Research

On the strength of the findings of The Audit of Injuries for Professional Football research funds has been allocated through The joint FA/PFA funding mechanism, for two further specific research projects.

5.1 Specific Research- Muscle Injury (To be developed)
2 years of funding = Total £100,000

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6 The Football Association / Professional Footballers' Association Study into The Possible Long Term Effects of Football Activity upon The Brain and Brain Function

This 10 year prospective study demonstrates the pro-active steps being taken by both parties regarding the medical welfare of players. The total costs of the research will be £116,000 over the 10 year period.

Study Aim
To determine what effects, if any, upon the physical and cognitive functions of the brain, may result from a career in football activity.

Hypothesis
It has been suggested that recognisable cognitive and Magnetic Resonance Scanning lesions are apparent in footballers, but these findings have been made in unstratified studies which are retrospective and have not been reproduced or observed thus far by other observers and methods of study.

The study is a prospective, closely monitored study of thirty footballers the study to commence in their late teens. Thirty young footballers, to agreed selection criteria (see attached Document A), from Academies of Football attached to Professional Football clubs are involved in the study. The study will continue over a ten-year period, with a review at five years. In the event of significant findings being recognised at five years, the study protocol will be broken to permit a “general” interim report, or in respect of an individual player, appropriate specialist medical advice to safeguard his welfare. The study protocol will be completed at the end of ten years, analysed and reported (see below).

Direction of Study
The study is under the direction of the medical clinicians involved in the study, and the records and research material will be held in confidence at the Neurosciences Division of the Leeds General Infirmary (University of Leeds).

Reporting of the Study
The findings will be written by the clinicians and will be submitted to a leading Scientific medical Journal for peer review and editorial scrutiny.

Only after the publication in the Medical Journal will commentary on the findings in the media or press be permitted.

The report of the study will carry appropriate acknowledgment to those who have funded and supported the project.

Informed Consent
It is recognised that in order for the study to proceed, those who participate will be asked to give written informed consent to the following:

  • Willingness to participate
  • Willingness to undergo the investigations
  • Permission for medical data to be published in anonomized form

7 The Association Football Foothealth Screening and Research Evaluation Programme

Allied to The FA Orthopaedic Musculo-Skeletal Evaluation Research Programme, The PFA funded Foothealth Screening and Research Programme will commence after Season 2000/2001. A full screening service will be provided by 2 professional Podiatrists. The service will be offered to all 17/18 year olds in all 92 clubs.

  • Annual Budget = £92,000

8. FA/PFA Cardiological Screening Programme Evaluation Research

The FA Medical Committee decided that specific cardiological screening research will to be conducted on young players in age groups:

  • 9-12 years old
  • 11-12 years old
  • 13-15 years old

In order to establish the target group for future cardiological screening and examine the effectiveness of the screening programme.

The research to involve 7 randomly chosen players in each of the age groups listed above drawn from 6 Academies of Football.

The research to be conducted at Papworth Hospital by Dr Len Shapiro, Consultant Cardiologist, Papworth Hospital.

9. FA/PFA Dynamic MRI Scanning Service and Research

In 1997 The Football Association awarded a 2 year Research Fellowship Award totaling £60,000 for the latest innovative diagnostic facility based at the MRI Centre, St. Mary's Paddington, London. At the time the fellowship funding was granted this was the only unit of its type in England and one of four in Europe. Some world class research findings have emanated from this Fellowship Award for Research.

The dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging Unit (costs over £2 million to purchase), allows scanning of a body part whilst in motion and was seen by The Football Association as an innovative, diagnostic and research 'tool' for players who have sustained injuries to soft tissues or body areas involving motion, compressive or traction forces.

The Research Fellowship Award Grant was awarded with the knowledge that The Football Association would receive:

  • Up to 40 free scans for selected professional players who had sustained injuries that may be diagnosed more fully through use of dynamic MRI.
  • The research findings be disseminated through FA publications and Football Association Medical Conferences.

The two year research fellowship has now been completed and significant number of specific research papers have been submitted to major scientific journals for publications.