Prevention of soccer injuries: a prospective intervention study in youth amateur players

BACKGROUND: Risk factors for soccer injuries and possibilities for prevention have been discussed by several authors, but only a few have investigated the effectiveness of preventive interventions. PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a prevention program on the incidence of soccer injuries in male youth amateur players. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective controlled intervention study. METHODS: Seven soccer teams took part in a prevention program that focused on education and supervision of coaches and players, while seven other teams were instructed to train and play soccer as usual. Over 1 year all injuries were documented weekly by physicians. Complete weekly injury reports were available for 194 players. RESULTS: The incidence of injury per 1000 hours of training and playing soccer was 6.7 in the intervention group and 8.5 in the control group, which equates to 21% fewer injuries in the intervention group. The greatest effects were observed for mild injuries, overuse injuries, and injuries incurred during training. The prevention program had greater effects in low-skill than in high-skill teams. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of soccer injuries can be reduced by preventive interventions, especially in low skill level youth teams. Coaches and players need better education regarding injury prevention strategies and should include such interventions as part of their regular training.     

The cost-effectiveness of air medical helicopter crash survival enhancements. An evaluation of the costs, benefits and effectiveness of injury prevention interventions

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates EMS helicopter-injury reduction interventions and associated costs for survivable crashes. Specific injury categories evaluated include head injuries, spinal injuries and thermal injuries. The benefits and costs of the preventive interventions are evaluated through cost-effectiveness analyses that provide a basis for informed safety-enhancement decisions for EMS helicopter operators, based on the most cost-efficient interventions. METHODS: The incidence and type of injuries experienced by EMS helicopter occupants were determined, and future risk of injury was estimated. Then the costs of those injuries, as well as the costs of the preventive interventions, were determined so estimates could be made of the cost benefits of the injuries prevented. Estimates were made regarding current levels of injury prevention interventions already in the field and their effectiveness in preventing injury. RESULTS: Improvements can be made to reduce the risk of injury to medical crew and pilots in survivable crashes. Nomex uniforms, helmets, and energy-absorbing seats (EAS) for medical crew members all prove cost-effective in reducing preventable injuries in survivable crashes. CONCLUSION: Emergency medical service helicopter occupants should wear fire-resistant uniforms and helmets, and medical crew members should have EAS systems when available. These EAS systems also are recommended for pilots, although they were not shown to be cost-effective based on the projections developed in this study.     

Injuries in youth and national combined events championships

In major track and field competitions, the most risky discipline is the combined event. Therefore, we aimed to record and analyze the incidence and characteristics of sports injuries incurred during the Youth and National Combined Events Championships. During the French Athletics Combined Events Championships in 2010, all newly occurred injuries were prospectively recorded by the local organising committee of physicians and physiotherapists working in the medical centres at the stadium, in order to determine incidence and characteristics of newly occurred injuries. In total, 51 injuries and 9 time-loss injuries were reported among 107 registered athletes, resulting in an incidence of 477 injuries and 84 time-loss injuries per 1?000 registered athletes. Approximately 72% of injuries affected lower limbs and 60% were caused by overuse. Thigh strain (17.6%) was the most common diagnosis. 14 dropouts were recorded, 8 were caused by an injury (57.1%). During the National and Youth Combined Events Championships, over one third of the registered athletes incurred an injury, with an injury incidence higher than in international elite track and field competitions. Interestingly, this higher injury risk concerned the younger population affecting immature musculoskeletal structures. In combined events, preventive interventions should mainly focus on overuse and thigh injuries.     

Self-reported needlestick injuries in dental health care workers at Armed Forces Hospital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The objective of the present study was to assess the incidence of sharps/needlestick injuries among dental health care workers (DHCWs) at Armed Forces Hospital Riyadh. A questionnaire was distributed among all dental staff, including dentists, hygienists, and dental surgery assistants. Results show that 65 individuals (58%) had sharps/needlestick injuries, and of these, more than half did not report these injuries to the appropriate department. At the time of injury, the majority of the DHCWs were vaccinated or immune, but a few of them were not vaccinated against hepatitis B virus. This study concludes that every DHCW should be immunized against hepatitis B virus to avoid cross-infection from sharps/needlestick injuries, which are quite common in a dental practice. The high frequency of these injuries could be reduced by simple interventions.     

Physical training and exercise-related injuries. Surveillance, research and injury prevention in military populations

Athletes and soldiers must both develop and maintain high levels of physical fitness for the physically demanding tasks they perform; however, the routine physical activity necessary to achieve and sustain fitness can result in training-related injuries. This article reviews data from a systematic injury control programme developed by the US Army. Injury control requires 5 major steps: (i) surveillance to determine the size of the injury problem; (ii) studies to determine causes and risk factors for these injuries; (iii) studies to ascertain whether proposed interventions actually reduce injuries; (iv) implementation of effective interventions; and (v) monitoring to see whether interventions retain their effectiveness. Medical surveillance data from the US Army indicate that unintentional (accidental) injuries cause about 50% of deaths, 50% of disabilities, 30% of hospitalisations and 40 to 60% of outpatient visits. Epidemiological surveys show that the cumulative incidence of injuries (requiring an outpatient visit) in the 8 weeks of US Army basic training is about 25% for men and 55% for women; incidence rates for operational infantry, special forces and ranger units are about 10 to 12 injuries/100 soldier-months. Of the limited-duty days accrued by trainees and infantry soldiers who were treated in outpatient clinics, 80 to 90% were the result of training-related injuries. US Army studies document a number of potentially modifiable risk factors for these injuries, which include high amounts of running, low levels of physical fitness, high and low levels of flexibility, sedentary lifestyle and tobacco use, amongst others. Studies directed at interventions showed that limiting running distance can reduce the risk for stress fractures, that the use of ankle braces can reduce the likelihood of ankle sprains during airborne operations and that the use of shock-absorbing insoles does not reduce stress fractures during training. The US Army continues to develop a comprehensive injury prevention programme encompassing surveillance, research, programme implementation and monitoring. The findings from this programme, and the general principles of injury control therein, have a wide application in civilian sports and exercise programmes.     

武警某部统训试点新兵军事训练伤调查与防治

 

目的 调查统训试点新兵训练伤发生情况,为训练伤防治提供指导。方法 选取2017年度1420名新兵作为研究对象,查阅门诊登记日志收集数据,训练伤诊断分类参照《中国人民解放军军事训练伤诊断分类标准》,并进行数据统计分析。结果 训练伤发病率为20.14%。急性损伤占23.78%,其中关节扭伤和软组织挫裂伤分别占急性损伤44.12%和13.24%。过劳性损伤占76.22%,其中疲劳性骨折所占28.67%,其次是创伤性关节炎、腱炎及腱鞘炎。在训练第6~10周发生训练伤较多,占全部损伤51.74%。城市来源的新兵训练伤发生率(13.57%),低于农村来源新兵(21.75%),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 训练第6~10周训练伤发生较多,其中过劳性损伤多于急性损伤,应重视农村来源新兵训练伤的防护;因人施训,有针对性预防能降低训练伤发生率。

     

An investigation of medical discharges from the British Army 1979-1986

Male medical discharges from the British Army were analyzed for the years 1979-1986. There was a sudden increase in 1983 which reached a peak in 1985 caused by a significant rise in rates of discharge as a consequence of lower limbs and muscular overuse conditions, injuries from road traffic accidents, sports and falls. Training injuries showed an increase which, although substantial, failed to reach statistical significance. The highest increase took place in lower limb and muscular overuse conditions in the youngest and most junior members of the infantry, especially when undergoing basic training. This category appears to be at the highest risk of medical discharge. Other teeth arms had the highest incidence of medical discharges from road traffic accidents. The importance of medical discharges may be misunderstood through the underestimation of their incidence and the absence of a capital valuation of the skills and experience of personnel discharged. The discharge of an infantry corporal with 8 years service may mean the loss of a capital of at least 149,599 pounds. Any interventions aimed at reducing the number discharges should be evaluated using the cost-benefit approach. Ways of reducing wastage are discussed.     

Soccer injuries: a review on incidence and prevention

Several investigators have studied the incidence and causes of soccer injuries in male professional players; however, epidemiological data on injuries in female soccer players are limited. From the data presented, it can be estimated that, on average, every elite male soccer player incurs approximately one performance-limiting injury each year. Nine studies on the prevention of soccer injuries were found in the literature. There is some evidence that multi-modal intervention programmes result in a general reduction in injuries. Ankle sprains can be prevented by external ankle supports and proprioceptive/coordination training, especially in athletes with previous ankle sprains. With regard to severe knee injuries, the results of prevention studies are partly inconclusive; however, training of neuromuscular and proprioceptive performance as well as improvement of jumping and landing technique seem to decrease the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female athletes. Prevention programmes are likely to be more effective in groups with an increased risk of injury. More methodologically well-designed studies are required to evaluate the effects of specific preventive interventions.     

Injury and illness among athletes during a multi-day elite cycling road race

Objectives: Although road bicycle races have been held for more than a century, injury and illness patterns during multi-day bicycle events have not been widely studied. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of injury and illness among riders and describe the medical care interventions provided to participants of cycling road races. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey, which was held between April 26 and May 3, 2015. The race lasted 8 days and covered 1258 km of road. There were 166 elite cycling athletes representing 21 teams from various countries. Data collected pertaining to incidents involving injury or illness included the following: type of injury; anatomical location of injury; details of the medical encounter; location of the intervention; treatment provided; medication administered and disposition of the rider. An injury was defined as a physical complaint or observable damage to the body produced by the transfer of energy of the rider. An illness was defined as a physical complaint or presentation not related to injury. Results: The overall incidence (injury and illness) was 5.83 per 1000 cycling hours. (Injury incidence was 2.82 vs illness incidence of 3.01 per 1000 hours cycling). A total of 31 incidents occurred. Of these, 15 were injuries, while 16 were complaints of a non-traumatic nature. A total of 43 interventions were made in the 15 cases of injury. The most commonly injured body regions were limbs; the majority of injuries involved the skin and soft tissue. The most common medical intervention was wound care (64% of all interventions). Two riders had to withdraw from the race, and one was hospitalized due to a traumatic pneumothorax. None of the non-traumatic cases resulted in withdrawal from the race. Conclusions: A broad spectrum of illness and injury occurs during elite multi-day road races, ranging from simple skin injuries to serious injuries requiring hospital admission. Most injuries and illnesses are minor; however, medical teams must be prepared to treat life-threatening trauma.     

2005～2010年396名军人伤害住院病情分析

目的:对某区部队伤害住院患者进行流行病学特征分析,提出预防建议。方法:应用我院的病历数据库资料进行分析。结果:意外损伤、军事训练伤、运动伤是导致部队伤害住院的3大主要因素。伤害主要发生在18～24岁(占76.77%)之间,干部意外损伤、运动伤、斗殴伤和交通伤高于战士,军事训练伤则战士明显高于干部。结论:部队要重视和加强伤害的预防工作。     

Comprehensive head and neck trauma screening: the USS Cole experience

A prospective study was designed to determine the incidence of occult head and neck injuries after initial triage of patients following the USS Cole terrorist bombing. All 39 patients evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center underwent comprehensive head and neck examinations, regardless of known diagnoses at the time of arrival. Appropriate interventions were performed, and detailed summaries were added to the patients' records. Initial triage listed nine of 39 patients as having sustained head and neck injuries. After screening by an otolaryngology team, 23 of 39 patients were identified as having head and neck injuries requiring further care. The majority of head and neck injuries were not initially reported to the head and neck trauma service. Our conclusion is that occult head and neck injuries are common after blast injuries. Early identification and intervention by a subspecialty head and neck trauma team can aid in achieving optimal outcomes after blast injury.     

某三级甲等医院医务人员锐器伤发生情况调查

 目的 了解某三级甲等医院医务人员锐器伤发生情况,发现危险因素,提出预防与控制措施,降低锐器伤发生率。方法 采用问卷调查法,对某三级甲等医院2017-04医务人员发生锐器伤情况进行回顾性调查。结果 在调查的1184名医务人员中,发生锐器伤19人,锐器伤发生率为1.60%。不同工作类别医务人员发生锐器伤差异有统计学意义,护士锐器伤发生率高于医技人员;不同性别、工作年限医务人员发生锐器伤差异无统计学意义。锐器伤高发科室为普通病房,占78.95%;高发操作环节为静脉/皮下注射,占36.84%;高发器具为一次性注射器,占36.84%。结论 2017-04某医院锐器伤发生人群集中在护士,发生场所集中在普通病房,发生时机集中在静脉/皮下注射,发生器具集中在一次性注射器,应加强对高危人群、高发环节的监管,规范操作,降低锐器伤发生率。     

Incidence,burden, and pattern of injuries in Spanish male youth soccer players: A prospective cohort study

ObjectivesTo explore the incidence, burden, and pattern of injuries in Spanish male youth soccer players during a 9-month competitive season (from September to May–June).DesignProspective cohort study.Participants314 young (10–19 years) soccer players.Main outcome measuresIncidence, burden, location, type, severity, mechanism, and circumstance of injuries, as well as potential differences by tactical position, month of the year, age group, and maturity status.ResultsA total of 146 time-loss injuries were sustained by 101 different players. This resulted in an overall injury incidence of 3.1 injuries per 1000 h, a training injury incidence of 1.8 injuries per 1000 h, and a match injury incidence of 11.2 injuries per 1000 h. The probability of injury over the season was 34%. Most of the injuries affected the lower extremity and were classified as muscle/tendon injuries, with hamstring muscle injuries representing the most burdensome diagnosis. The incidence of injuries increased with age and maturation, but a heightened risk of overuse injuries during periods around peak height velocity was also identified.ConclusionsThese findings suggest a need for implementing specific injury prevention measures. Due to the high burden shown, these measures should mainly focus on reducing the number and severity of hamstring muscle injuries.     

The incidence of eye injuries at three U.S. Army installations

Studies addressing the impact of eye injuries on U.S. Army readiness and the effectiveness of countermeasures are lacking. In 1989, the U.S. Army Environmental Hygiene Agency undertook a prospective, multicenter study of military units in the peacetime Army at selected installations to define the incidence of eye injuries, assess associated variables, and identify targets for intervention. During the first 5 months of 1989 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and Fort Lewis, Washington, health care providers saw 103 new eye injuries with an overall rate of 14.18 injuries per 1,000 personnel annually. Almost one-half of the injuries (48 cases, 46.60%) occurred during on-duty work and training. Most (93 cases, 90.29%) of the soldiers were not wearing eye protection when injured. This study identifies possible targets for intervention and provides a baseline against which the interventions of the last decade may be assessed for effectiveness.     

Injuries in youth amateur soccer and rugby players--comparison of incidence and characteristics

OBJECTIVES: In reviewing the literature on sports injuries, few studies could be found in which exposure related incidences of injury in different types of sport were compared. These studies indicated that ice hockey, handball, basketball, soccer, and rugby are popular team sports with a relatively high risk of injury. The aim of the study was to compare the characteristics and incidence of injuries in male youth amateur soccer and rugby players. METHODS: This prospective cohort study comprised an initial baseline examination to ascertain the characteristics of the players and their level of performance, and a one season observation period during which a physician visited the team weekly and documented all occurring injuries. Twelve soccer and 10 rugby school teams with male amateur players aged 14-18 years were selected for the study. 145 soccer and 123 rugby players could be followed up over one season. RESULTS: Comparison of the incidence of soccer and rugby injuries indicated that rugby union football was associated with a significantly higher rate of injury than soccer. The differences were pronounced for contact injuries, injuries of the head, neck, shoulder, and upper extremity, as well as for concussion, fractures, dislocations, and strains. Rugby players incurred 1.5 times more overuse and training injuries in relation to exposure time, and 2.7 times more match injuries than soccer players. Three rugby players but no soccer players had to stop their participation in sport because of severe injury. CONCLUSION: The incidence of injury in New Zealand school teams playing soccer or rugby union is high, probably in part because of the low ratio of hours spent in training relative to hours spent playing matches. The development and implementation of preventive interventions to reduce the rate and severity of injury is recommended.     

To stretch or not to stretch: the role of stretching in injury prevention and performance

Stretching is commonly practiced before sports participation; however, effects on subsequent performance and injury prevention are not well understood. There is an abundance of literature demonstrating that a single bout of stretching acutely impairs muscle strength, with a lesser effect on power. The extent to which these effects are apparent when stretching is combined with other aspects of a pre‐participation warm‐up, such as practice drills and low intensity dynamic exercises, is not known. With respect to the effect of pre‐participation stretching on injury prevention a limited number of studies of varying quality have shown mixed results. A general consensus is that stretching in addition to warm‐up does not affect the incidence of overuse injuries. There is evidence that pre‐participation stretching reduces the incidence of muscle strains but there is clearly a need for further work. Future prospective randomized studies should use stretching interventions that are effective at decreasing passive resistance to stretch and assess effects on subsequent injury incidence in sports with a high prevalence of muscle strains.     

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female athletes: Part 2, a meta-analysis of neuromuscular interventions aimed at injury prevention

Female athletes have a 4 to 6 times higher incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injury than do male athletes participating in the same landing and pivoting sports. This greater risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury, coupled with a geometric increase in participation (doubling each decade), has led to a significant rise in anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female athletes. The gender gap in anterior cruciate ligament injury, combined with evidence that the underpinnings of this serious health problem are neuromuscular in nature, leads to the development of neuromuscular interventions designed to prevent injury. A systematic review of the published literature yielded 6 published interventions targeted toward anterior cruciate ligament injury prevention in female athletes. Four of 6 significantly reduced knee injury incidence, and 3 of 6 significantly reduced anterior cruciate ligament injury incidence in female athletes. A meta-analysis of these 6 studies demonstrates a significant effect of neuromuscular training programs on anterior cruciate ligament injury incidence in female athletes (test for overall effect, Z = 4.31, P < .0001). Examination of the similarities and differences between the training regimens gives insight into the development of more effective and efficient interventions. The purpose of this "Current Concepts" review is to highlight the relative effectiveness of these interventions in reducing anterior cruciate ligament injury rates and to evaluate the common training components between the training studies. In addition, the level of rigor of these interventions, the costs and the difficulty of implementation, the compliance with these interventions, and the performance benefits are discussed. This review summarizes conclusions based on evidence from the common components of the various interventions to discuss their potential to reduce anterior cruciate ligament injury risk and assess their potential for combined use in more effective and efficient intervention protocols.     

Effects of the menstrual cycle on anterior cruciate ligament injury risk: a systematic review

Several theories have been proposed to explain the 3- to 6-fold gender difference in the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries. One potential theory for the increased incidence is based on gender-related hormonal differences between men and women, especially after puberty and the onset of menses in the female athlete. The purpose of this systematic review was to compile and systematically analyze the published literature to determine if the menstrual cycle is associated with anterior cruciate ligament injury risk and to provide an objective comparison of the published results. Investigations were included in the systematic review if the report included associations between the menstrual cycle and noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female athletes. Abstracts and unpublished studies were excluded. Seven articles were identified that met the systematic review inclusion criteria. The 7 reviewed studies favored an effect of the first half, or preovulatory phase, of the menstrual cycle for increased anterior cruciate ligament injuries. The 6 studies that separated the non-oral contraceptive and oral contraceptive data also favored an effect of the first half of the menstrual cycle for increased anterior cruciate ligament injuries. The clinical relevance of this finding is that female athletes may be more predisposed to anterior cruciate ligament injuries during the preovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle. These findings may lead to potential interventions targeted toward this phase of the menstrual cycle to reduce the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injury.