Illness and infection in elite full-contact football-code sports: A systematic review

Abstract Objectives Full-contact football-code team sports offer a unique environment for illness risk. During training and match-play, players are exposed to high-intensity collisions which may result in skin-on-skin abrasions transfer of bodily fluids. Understanding the incidence all illnesses infections what impact they cause time-loss from competition is important improve athlete care within these sports. This review aimed systematically report, quantify compare type, incidence, prevalence count across full-contact Design/methods A systematic search Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO CINAHL electronic databases was performed inception October 2019; keywords relating illness, athletes epidemiology were used. Studies excluded if did not or infection, involve elite athletes, investigate articles. Results Twenty-eight studies met eligibility criteria. Five different football-codes reported: American football (n = 10), Australian rules (n = 3), rugby league (n = 2), sevens (n = 3) union (n = 9). One multi-sport study included both union. most commonly affected by respiratory system illnesses. There distinct lack consensus monitoring methodology. Conclusions sport Due various methodologies, could only be compared between that used matching exposure measures. High-quality surveillance data collection an essential component undertake effective targeted prevention athletes.