TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - The prevention of injuries in contact flag football
JO  - Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy
A1  - Kaplan, Yonatan
A1  - Myklebust, Grethe
A1  - Nyska, Meir
A1  - Palmanovich, Ezequiel
A1  - Victor, Jan
A1  - Witvrouw, Erik
SP  - 26
EP  - 32
VL  - 22
IS  - 1
N2  - PURPOSE: American flag football is a non-tackle, contact sport with many moderate to severe contact-type injuries reported. A previous prospective injury surveillance study by the authors revealed a high incidence of injuries to the fingers, face, knee, shoulder and ankle. The objectives of the study were to conduct a pilot-prospective injury prevention study in an attempt to significantly reduce the incidence and the severity of injuries as compared to a historical cohort, as well as to provide recommendations for a future prospective injury prevention study. METHODS: A prospective injury prevention study was conducted involving 724 amateur male (mean age: 20.0 ± 3.1 years) and 114 female (mean age: 21.2 ± 7.2 years) players. Four prevention measures were implemented: the no-pocket rule, self-fitting mouth guards, ankle braces (for those players with recurrent ankle sprains) and an injury treatment information brochure. An injury surveillance questionnaire was administered to record all time-loss injuries sustained in game sessions. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant reduction in the number of injured players, the number of finger/hand injuries, the incidence rate and the incidence proportion between the two cohorts (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This one-season pilot prevention study has provided preliminary evidence that finger/hand injuries can be significantly reduced in flag football. Prevention strategies for a longer, prospective, randomised-controlled injury prevention study should include the strict enforcement of the no-pocket rule, appropriate head gear, the use of comfortable-fitting ankle braces and mouth guards, and changing the blocking rules of the game. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0942-2056
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00167-012-2335-5
ID  - ref1
ER  -