Influence of the COL5A1 rs12722 on musculoskeletal injuries in professional soccer players

• Published in: Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness Vol. 55; no. 11; p. 1348
• Main Authors: Massidda, M, Bachis, V, Corrias, L, Piras, F, Scorcu, M, Calò, C M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy Edizioni Minerva Medica 01-11-2015
• Subjects: Adult; Athletic Injuries - genetics; Athletic Injuries - metabolism; Collagen Type V - genetics; Collagen Type V - metabolism; DNA - genetics; Genotype; Genotype & phenotype; Humans; Incidence; Injuries; Male; Musculoskeletal system; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Soccer; Soccer - injuries; Sports injuries; Sports training; Team Sports; Italy
• ISSN: 0022-4707; 1827-1928

The aim of this study was to investigate whether COL5A1 rs12722 polymorphism is associated with musculoskeletal injuries in elite soccer players.
Fifty-four male professional soccer players of European origin (25.9±4.3 years) were recruited from a team participating at the Official Italian Professional Championship during four consecutive seasons (2009-2013). The incidence and severity of musculoskeletal injuries and its relationship to COL5A1 rs12722 polymorphism were analyzed. DNA was extracted from buccal swab. The cohort was genotyped for the COL5A1 rs12722 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) through PCR and enzyme digestion with BstUI, and musculoskeletal injuries data were collected during the four seasons. Injuries were categorized under 5 degrees of severity based on the number of days' absence, while musculoskeletal injuries incidence was calculated per 1,000 hours of exposure to training and matches ((∑ injuries/∑ exposure hours) x 1000).
No significant differences were found among genotypes for incidence of musculoskeletal injuries (P=0.683). Participants with TT genotype (3.71±0.5, N.=4) showed a trend (P=0.193) versus an higher severity of injuries than individuals with TC (2.98±0.8, N.=10) or CC (2.75±0.95, n=4) genotypes. The COL5A1 rs12722 accounted for 44% of severity of injuries (P=0.002).
In conclusion, the COL5A1 rs12722 was found to be associated with severity of musculoskeletal injuries but not with incidence of musculoskeletal injuries in top-level soccer players.