Rodas, GilMoreno Pérez, VíctorCoso Garrigos, Juan delFlorit, DanielOsaba, LourdesLucía Mulas, Alejandro2021-07-292021-07-292021Rodas, G., Moreno Pérez, V., Coso, J., Florit, D., Osaba, L., & Lucía, A. (2021). Alpha-actinin-3 deficiency might affect recovery from non-contact muscle injuries: Preliminary findings in a top-level soccer team. Genes, 12(5), 769. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes120507692073-4425http://hdl.handle.net/11268/10266There are recent data suggesting an association between the R577X polymorphism (rs1815739) in the gene encoding α-actinin-3 (ACTN3) and the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. The purpose of this study was to analyze the association of rs1815739 with risk of, and recovery time from non-contact soft-tissue muscle injuries in professional soccer players. Forty-six (22 male and 24 female) players from a top-level professional soccer team were assessed during five consecutive seasons: the genotype distribution was: RR, 41.3%; RX, 47.8%; and XX, 10.9%. There was a trend towards a higher risk of muscle injury associated with the XX genotype (p = 0.092, with no injury-free XX player during the 5-year study period) and a significant genotype effect for the time needed to return to play (p = 0.044, with the highest value shown for the XX genotype, i.e., 36 ± 26 days, vs. 20 ± 10 and 17 ± 12 days for RR and RX, respectively). In conclusion, the XX genotype might be associated not only with a higher risk of non-contact muscle injuries, but also of recovery time from these conditions. However, more research in larger cohorts is needed to confirm this preliminary hypothesis.engAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internacionalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/FútbolContracturajournal article10.3390/genes12050769open accessDeporteSistema cardiovascularAtleta