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Citation
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Barboza SD, Nauta J, Emery C, Van Mechelen W, Gouttebarge V, Verhagen E. J. Athl. Train. 2019; 54(4): 374-383. |
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Abstract
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CONTEXT: Field hockey is popular worldwide; however, it entails a risk of injury. Injuries hamper players' participation in the sport and impose a burden on public health.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of a structured exercise program among youth field hockey players on the injury rate, severity, and burden.
DESIGN: Quasi-experimental study. SETTING: On field during 1 season of field hockey (October 2016 through June 2017). PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 22 teams (291 players): 10 teams (135 players, mean age = 11.5 years [95% confidence interval (CI) = 11.2, 11.7 years]) in the intervention group and 12 teams (156 players, mean age = 12.9 years [95% CI = 12.6, 13.2 years]) in the control group. INTERVENTION(S): The Warming-up Hockey program, a sex- and age-specific, structured, evidence-informed warm-up program consisting of a preparation phase (ie, agility and cardiovascular warm-up exercises), movement skills (ie, stability and flexibility exercises), and sport-specific skills (ie, speed and strength exercises in field hockey situations). Participants in the control group performed their usual warm-up routines. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Injury rate (ie, the number of injuries per 1000 player-hours of field hockey exposure), severity (ie, days of player time-loss), and burden on athletes' availability to play (ie, days of time loss due to injury per 1000 player-hours of field hockey exposure).
RESULTS: The injury rate was lower in the intervention group (hazard ratio of 0.64 [95% CI = 0.38, 1.07]); however, this result was not statistically significant. The severity of injuries was similar in both groups (t statistic P =.73). The burden of injuries on players' field hockey participation was lower in the intervention group (difference of 8.42 [95% CI = 4.37, 12.47] days lost per 1000 player-hours of field hockey).
CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to the Warming-up program was not significantly associated with a lower injury rate. No reduction was observed in the severity of injuries alone; however, the burden of injuries on players' field hockey participation was lower in the intervention group.
Language: en |