JMIRx Medxmed34JMIRx MedJMIRx Med2563-63165604010.2196/56040Peer Review of “COVID-19 National Football League (NFL) Injury Analysis: Follow-Up Study”Anonymous­MeinertEdward202413220245e560400301202403012024©Anonymous. Originally published in JMIRx Med (https://med.jmirx.org), 13.2.2024. 2024

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https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/45688https://med.jmirx.org/2024/1/e55863https://med.jmirx.org/2024/1/e45688COVID-19injuryprevalenceadaptationsports medicinefollow-uptrainingfootballepidemiologysportathleteathleticinjuries

This is the peer-review report for “COVID-19 National Football League (NFL) Injury Analysis: Follow-Up Study.”

Round 1 ReviewGeneral Comments

This paper [1] provides epidemiological data on injury incidences in the National Football League (NFL) before and after the COVID-19 lockdown. This paper has the potential to be clinically meaningful; however, it has major flaws that should be addressed before it is reconsidered.

Specific CommentsMajor Comments

The authors stated that “This is the first large scale opportunity to demonstrate the effects of these principles and how they are important to understanding injury epidemiology.” However, there are studies that have looked at the effect of COVID-19 on other sporting leagues, for example, Bundesliga, Major League Soccer (MLS), etc. All this has been published and should be cited.

Can the authors please confirm or comment on the potential accuracy of this open data? What validity checks were employed to demonstrate that these data are accurate?

How can the authors be sure that the increase in injuries was due to COVID-19?

What is meant by injuries? Soft tissue injuries or concussions? Perhaps an analysis on time-loss injuries would be more beneficial and add value.

None declared.

AbbreviationsMLS

Major League Soccer

NFL

National Football League

ReferencesPugaTBSchaferJThielGCOVID-19 National Football League (NFL) injury analysis: follow-up studyJMIRx Med20245e4568810.2196/45688