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LiU world leader in football injury research

18 June 2026

Johan Sjöholm

A new study mapping over 120 years of research ranks Linköping University as number one. The study shows that LiU has not only published the highest number of scientific works in the field, but is also among the most cited and influential research institutions globally.

En person med färgglada skor som ligger på gräset. Photographer: Maskot

Linköping University, and its Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences (HMV), is the most prominent research environment in the world when it comes to football injury research. This is according to a new international study that analysed more than 2,800 scientific publications dating from 1904 to 2025.

A research field in rapid development

The study included a total of 2,864 articles and systematic reviews. The results show that research on football injuries has grown significantly over time – from occasional publications in the early 1900s to extensive and rapid research production today.

The most noticeable increase occurred after the mid-2000s, when the number of publications began to increase rapidly. This development reflects both the professionalisation of the sport and an increased focus on players’ health. However, the overall focus has shifted. Previously, it was mainly on describing injuries. Today, research is increasingly concerned with preventing injuries, improving rehabilitation and understanding risk factors.

Strong position for LiU and Scandinavia

The study ranks Linköping University and HMV as the most productive organisation in the field, with over 100 publications and a large citation impact.

Several of LiU’s publications are also among the most cited in the field, which underlines the international importance of the university’s research. Moreover, LiU is a key player in international research collaborations. The researchers also highlight the strong Scandinavian research environment, particularly in epidemiology and football injury prevention and rehabilitation.

HMV researcher Martin Hägglund is the most productive researcher internationally according to the study and he is also highly cited. Hägglund’s research highlights, among other things, injury incidence and risk factors in European elite football within the Football Research Group, and the effect of injury prevention efforts in youth football within the Sport Without Injury ProgrammE (SWIPE).

Focus on common and serious injuries

Knee injuries, and especially cruciate ligament injuries, is the most studied field in football medicine. Hamstring injuries, ankle injuries and concussions are also key research areas, and often occur in both elite and grassroots football.

 - The huge attention paid to these injuries has to do with their consequences, which often involve a lengthy rehabilitation process and in some cases affect players’ careers. Research at LiU has shown, for example, that hamstring injuries are the most common injuries in men’s and women’s elite football and have increased over time, probably related to developments in elite football such as higher game intensity and matches being played more frequently, Martin Hägglund explains.

The study also shows that injury prevention efforts have had a clear effect. For example, training programmes with neuromuscular elements have been shown to reduce the risk of injury, including cruciate ligament injuries, by up to 50–65 percent. The SWIPE research group has developed and evaluated the Knee Control and Knee Control+ programmes, which have proven effective in preventing common and serious injuries in children and adolescents who play sports. The programmes are recommended and disseminated within the football community by the Swedish Football Association.

Increased focus on individuals and new technologies

Research is also moving towards more individualised working methods. Issues such as training load, recovery and training dosage are increasingly being addressed, not least in women’s and youth football. But new technologies are also highlighted as an important factor for the future. AI and wearable sensors are identified as tools to better prevent injuries, analyse training loads in real time and track player health over time.

The results mean that Linköping University is currently one of the environments having the greatest influence on how injury problems in football are understood and handled – both within elite and grassroots sports.

Click here for complete study:

Global Trends and Research Hotspots in Soccer Injury Literature: A Bibliometric Analysis (1904–2025). Vaishya, R. Sing, A. Gupta, M. Vaish, A. Dhillon M. ScienceDirect, online May 14, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jisako.2026.101135

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Brief facts about football injuries

Injuries are common in football

Injury frequency

Four out of five elite players, and one out of three youth players, suffer at least one injury per season that results in abstaining from playing football.

Youth injuries

Both acute injuries and recurring overuse injuries are common in adolescence during growth spurts.

Permanent injury

Serious injuries, such as cruciate ligament injuries, are a common reason for giving up sports, and can lead to impaired function and health also later in life.

Many injuries can be prevented

Injury prevention

In four randomised studies, we have shown that Knee Control and Knee Control+ can reduce injuries by 30-60%.

Less re-injury

Re-injury can be reduced by over 50% if coaches follow a schedule for controlled return to sport after an injury.

Skills is needed

The effect of advice and injury prevention programmes depends on coaches and associations being aware of and using them.

Utilisation of research

Collaboration

We collaborate with the Swedish and the European Football Association to initiate relevant research questions and disseminate research results to the sports community.

Knowledge

Knee Control and Knee Control+ are included in coach training and are freely available via the Swedish Football Association's website.

For all levels

Knee Control+ is also available as a training programme for exercisers through Friskis&Svettis.

Risks during the 2026 World Cup

The risk of injury is high during major championships such as the World Cup, with a tight schedule, high intensity and much at stake.

Martin Hägglund predicts the biggest risks during the World Cup:

1. On average, 2-3 injuries occur per game, the most common being thigh, groin and calf muscle injuries (strains, contusions) and knee and ankle joint injuries (sprains).

2. Head injuries and concussions have received increased attention in recent years given their potentially long-term negative consequences, and have led to the introduction of rule changes and referee and player education to reduce the risk.

3. A particular ’hot topic’ during this year's World Cup is the high risk posed by playing in extreme heat, which has negative effects on both performance and health. The teams’ preparations include acclimatisation and hydration strategies for players, fanning and cooling systems on site, hydration breaks being introduced during matches and, where possible, matches are scheduled during cooler times of the day in arenas that do not have climate control roofs.


Photo of Martin Hägglund

Martin Hägglund

Professor

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