@article{ref1,
title="Effectiveness of a stress management pilot program aimed at reducing the incidence of sports injuries in young football (soccer) players",
journal="Physical therapy in sport",
year="2016",
author="Olmedilla-Zafra, Aurelio and Rubio, Victor J. and Ortega, Enrique and García-Mas, Alexandre",
volume="24",
number="",
pages="53-59",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: Several attempts to reduce the incidence of sport injuries using psychosocial interventions produced fruitful, although inconclusive results. This paper presents the effectiveness and implementation issues of a pilot 3-month stress-management and muscle relaxation program aimed at reducing sport injury incidence. <br><br>DESIGN: Pre-post treatment-non treatment group comparison. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION: The program was administered by a trained psychologist on a once-a-week, 1-h session basis. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-four male soccer players from four National Youth league teams voluntarily participated. Teams were randomly assigned to either treatment/non-treatment group. MEASURES: Injury protocol, Self-monitoring cards, Athletes' satisfaction and commitment survey, Coaches' interview. <br><br>RESULTS: Group main effect and Time-Group interaction effect were both statistically significant, F(1,60) = 8.30, p = 0.005, η(2)p = 0.121, with the average number of injuries larger in the post-treatment phase of non-treatment group (p = 0.005, η(2)p = 0.077). There was a significant decrease in the average number of injuries for the intervention group before and after implementing the program (p < 0.001, η(2)p = 0.309). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: A controlled implementation of a psychosocial program was effective in reducing youth soccer sport injuries, with a high level of satisfaction and commitment from the athletes, as well as high acceptance from the coaches.<br><br>Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1466-853X",
doi="10.1016/j.ptsp.2016.09.003",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2016.09.003"
}