Acute Injury Profile In Goalkeepers In Football: Systematic Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26858/cpjok.v18i2.787Keywords:
Acute Injury; Football; Goalkeeper; Biomechanics; Shoulder TraumaAbstract
Modern football has experienced substantial tactical and physical evolution, significantly increasing the biomechanical demands placed on goalkeepers. However, goalkeeper-specific injury risks remain insufficiently explored due to the frequent aggregation of injury data with outfield players. This study aimed to synthesize current scientific evidence regarding the acute injury profiles of football goalkeepers and analyze the biomechanical mechanisms underlying these injuries during the period 2015–2025. This research employed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) design following the PRISMA guidelines. Data were collected from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Portal Garuda databases using predefined keywords related to football goalkeepers and acute injuries. A total of 87 articles were initially identified, with 15 peer-reviewed studies meeting the inclusion criteria after screening and eligibility assessment. The findings revealed that goalkeepers possess a unique injury profile dominated by upper extremity trauma. Shoulder injuries were identified as the most prevalent acute injury (36%), followed by finger fractures and dislocations (27%), wrist injuries (16%), concussion-related trauma (13%), and elbow injuries (8%). Biomechanical analysis demonstrated that high-velocity landing phases during diving saves and ball-to-hand impacts represent the primary mechanisms contributing to acute trauma. Furthermore, suboptimal field infrastructure, particularly hard and uneven playing surfaces in the Indonesian context, was found to exacerbate landing impact severity and increase injury risk. In conclusion, generalized football injury prevention programs are insufficient for goalkeepers. Therefore, position-specific prevention strategies emphasizing scapular stabilization, ergonomic landing techniques, neuromuscular conditioning, and environmental adaptation are strongly recommended to reduce the incidence of severe acute injuries among football goalkeepers.
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