Citation

von Rosen P, Halvarsson B. BMJ Open Sport Exerc. Med. 2018; 4(1): e000347.

Affiliation

Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society (NVS) Division of Physiotherapy, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine, Publisher BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000347

PMID

29707231

PMCID

PMC5914718

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The high physical load associated with running through uneven terrain contributes to orienteerers being exposed to high injury risk, where the majority of injuries are located in the lower extremities. Specific training programmes have been effective at reducing injury risk in sports. Yet no trial has been conducted in elite orienteering. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a specific training programme in preventing lower extremity injury in adult elite orienteerers. STUDY DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial (RCT).

METHODS: Seventy-two Swedish elite orienteerers, aged 18-40 years, are allocated to an intervention or control group. The intervention group performs four specific exercises, with three difficult levels intensified every second week over the first 4 weeks, targeting strength, flexibility and coordination of the lower extremity. The exercises are completed four times a week (10 min per session) in conjunction with normal training over 14 weeks. Injury data are collected every second week using a valid injury questionnaire distributed by text messages over 14 weeks. The primary outcome is number of substantial injuries in the lower extremity. The secondary outcomes are incidence of ankle sprains and the average substantial injury prevalence across 14 weeks.

DISCUSSION: Due to high injury risk and lack of injury prevention trials in orienteering, an RCT investigating the effect of a specific exercise programme in preventing lower extremity injury is warranted. The results of this trial will be beneficial to orienteerers, clubs and federations, and increase our understanding on how lower extremity injuries can be prevented in a physically challenging sport. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03408925.

Language: en

Keywords

injury; prevention; running