Development of an athlete/shoe/surface-related injury prediction model for American football. 1. Systematic identification of qualitative and quantitative variables

This is pt. 1 of a two-part paper concerned with surface-related athletic injury prediction. The author considers the athlete, footwear, playing surface and interface factors as a system for assessment of injury prediction parameters. Based on a review of the literature, the author identifies and categorizes qualitative and quantitative factors in the athlete/shoe/surface/interface system important for injury prediction, using the sport of football as an example. The methodology should also be applicable to other sports.