Doha, Qatar (March 10 , 2014) – Researchers from Texas A&M University, NASA, the Karlinska Institute (Sweden), FC Barcelona (Spain), and the Aspire Academy (Qatar) have been awarded a 3-year, $1.3 million dollar grant from the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) to develop ground-breaking research designed to analyze hamstring injuries in football players, and to create new injury prevention strategies.

The research project is entitled ‘A multi-continental approach to advance exercise methods and technologies to promote general health and sports performance’. It was launched on February 1, 2014 and is expected to be completed in three years.

The project can boast the partnership between Aspire Academy (Dr. Valter Di Salvo and Dr. Jose Alberto Mendez Villanueva) and some very prestigious entities as Karoliska Institute (Dr. Per Tesch and Dr. Rodrigo Fernandez Gonzalo), FC Barcelona (Dr. Gil Rodas); NASA (Astronaut Dr. Richard Linnenhan); and, the Exercise & Sport Nutrition Lab at Texas A&M University (Dr. Richard Kreider).  The cooperation between the Academy and the well renowned partners reinforce the value of a unique and without precedents projects of its kind.

Professor Valter Di Salvo, Director of Football Performance & Science at Aspire Academy, commented on the partnership, “It is a pleasure and an honor for Aspire Academy to lead a project endorsed by the Qatar National Research Found. We are working with four global organizations that are experts in their specific  areas , and the overall experience and outcomes gained from this exciting collaboration will be of great value to Aspire Academy.”

“More importantly however, the research will help improve player performance levels and ultimately empower the development of our Qatari youth football players – the nation’s football stars of the future. The project demonstrates our ongoing commitment to nurturing our athletes’ potential and creating a new generation of sports champions,” Di Salvo added.

The project is divided into three separate phases. The majority of existing research is derived from studies using adult players; therefore, the study will aim to collect data from senior and youth players, as well as professional and semi-professional footballers.  A range of clubs and teams are set to collaborate including Aspire Academy, QSL, QFA, and FC Barcelona.  

By furthering research that helps prevent injuries, the results will not only benefit Qatar but are also likely to bring multiple advantages globally. In addition, the results will contribute towards the development of a successful national team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Jose Alberto Villanueva, Aspire Academy, said, “Hamstring strains are well documented in football and account for 12%-16% of all injuries sustained by football players, making it the most prevalent injury in the sport. The over-arching goal of this project is to tackle this issue and lead the way in setting new prevention strategies for both young and adult players.”QNRF is a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development and a centre within Qatar Foundation Research and Development. It was established in 2006 as part of an ongoing commitment to establish Qatar as a knowledge-based economy. QNRF supports original, competitively selected research in engineering and technology, physical and life sciences, medicine, humanities, social sciences and the arts. A total of 137 projects have been awarded grants out of the 688 proposals submitted to QNRF since January 2013.

Project Summary

The project studies will analyze the injuries involved in the hamstring muscles of soccer players. Information gleaned from this study will help set new injury prevention strategies, thereby increasing player performance.

Hamstring muscle strain injuries are well documented in soccer. Indeed, hamstring muscle strain injuries accounts for 12-16% of all injuries sustained by soccer players, making it the most prevalent injury for this sport.

The majority of the current data we have relating to hamstring strain injuries and other injuries in soccer is derived from studies using adult players and not youth players. The paucity of soccer injury information in the youth population is somewhat surprising, as potential long-term injuries may cause early retirement from soccer and limit future physical activity. Indeed, long-term injuries may lead to persistent dysfunction in adulthood and also to potential negative effects on future health. Therefore, it appears that future soccer performance is highly dependent on the ability to remain free from injury.

The project is divided into three different studies, with completion expected in three years’ time.

The project will have implications not only for Qatar, but also for multiple global regions. By understanding and preventing the most common injury in soccer, e.g. hamstring strain, the project will also help to advance new training regimes for youth athletes. Increasing performance and protecting Qatari soccer players from injuries are key pillars for the development of a successful national team for the 2022 World Cup. The information delivered by this project will also be of benefit to sport professionals from all over the world.

The great technical and human effort that will be delivered during the studies included in this project will guarantee multiple applications in the fields of exercise science, sports and health.

As opposed to other related research, the different study phases of this project will derive data from both senior and youth players. The experience gained from this exciting partnership is truly a great asset to Aspire, but most importantly of all, it will empower the development of our Qatari youth football players – the nation’s football stars of the future.