Jan Ekstrand
Visiting Professor
I have been the main responsible person for UEFA's research on sports safety for elite-level football players in Europe until 2022. I still participate in a research group at LiU (Football Research Group, FRG) that handles these UEFA projects.
Short texts
CV
- Professor, Med Dr, specialist in Orthopaedic surgery
- PhD 1982. Was the first who showed in a RCT that sports injuries could be prevented
- Chief Medical Officer at Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital 2018-2020
- Professor of Sports-Medicine, University of Linköping, Sweden since 2000
- Leading UEFA Elite Club Injury studies 2001-2023
- Team physician of the Swedish National Football team for 120 matches,
- World Cup bronze medal 1994
- 10 000 followers on X: @JanEkstrand
Network
Football Research Group (FRG)
UEFA Elite Club Injury study network (women and men)
Publications
Ekstrand J, Gillquist J, Liljedahl S-O. Prevention of soccer injuries through medical supervision: the role of doctors and physiotherapists. Am J Sports Med 1983.
First RCT showing the possibility to prevent Sports Injuries
Ekstrand J, Bengtsson H, Waldén M, et al. Hamstring injury rates have increased during recent seasons and now constitute 24% of all injuries in men’s professional football: the UEFA Elite Club Injury Study from 2001/02 to 2021/22. Br J Sports Med 2022
Most cited study in BJSM (impact factor 11) during 2022
Ekstrand, J., Hallén, A., Marin, V. et al. Most modifiable risk factors for hamstring muscle injury in women’s elite football are extrinsic and associated with the club, the team, and the coaching staff and not the players themselves: the UEFA Women’s Elite Club Injury Study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 31, 2550–2555 (2023)
ESKAscientific prize for best article published in KSSTA during 2023
First RCT showing the possibility to prevent Sports Injuries
Ekstrand J, Bengtsson H, Waldén M, et al. Hamstring injury rates have increased during recent seasons and now constitute 24% of all injuries in men’s professional football: the UEFA Elite Club Injury Study from 2001/02 to 2021/22. Br J Sports Med 2022
Most cited study in BJSM (impact factor 11) during 2022
Ekstrand, J., Hallén, A., Marin, V. et al. Most modifiable risk factors for hamstring muscle injury in women’s elite football are extrinsic and associated with the club, the team, and the coaching staff and not the players themselves: the UEFA Women’s Elite Club Injury Study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 31, 2550–2555 (2023)
ESKAscientific prize for best article published in KSSTA during 2023
2025
2024
2023
Ongoing research projects
• Level of communication between the medical staff and the performance staff and association with hamstring injury burden: a sub-study on 14 teams from the UEFA Elite Club Injury Study
• Do injuries to key players relate to team success in male Champions League teams? A sub-study on 14 teams from the UEFA Elite Club Injury Study
• Return to play time for common injuries in elite European women’s club football. A 7- year follow up of injuries in the UEFA Women’s Elite Club Injury Study
• Do replacements of staff around a women’s elite team affect injury rates?
• Do injuries to key players relate to team success in male Champions League teams? A sub-study on 14 teams from the UEFA Elite Club Injury Study
• Return to play time for common injuries in elite European women’s club football. A 7- year follow up of injuries in the UEFA Women’s Elite Club Injury Study
• Do replacements of staff around a women’s elite team affect injury rates?