Can movement tests predict injury in elite orienteerers? An 1-year prospective cohort study

Could a specific exercise programme prevent injury in elite orienteerers? A randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effect of a specific exercise programme on preventing lower extremity injury in adult elite orienteerers.

DESIGN

Randomised controlled trial.

SETTING

Elite orienteering.

PARTICIPANTS

Sixty-two orienteerers (n = 32/30, male/female) were randomized and followed over 14 weeks. The intervention group completed an exercise programme 4 times per week.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Number of substantial injuries, average substantial injury prevalence and incidence of ankle sprains over the competitive season. In per-protocol analyses, compliance rate to exercise programme was considered.

RESULTS

No significant differences between control and intervention group were found for substantial injured orienteerers (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.19-1.34), number of substantial injuries (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.18-1.13) and incidence of ankle sprains (p = 0.775). In per-protocol analyses, significant differences in substantial injured orienteerers (difference -7.9%, OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.06-0.97) and number of substantial injuries (difference -8.5%, OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.07-0.92) in favour for the orienteers completing the exercises at least twice a week, compared to the control group, were found.

CONCLUSIONS

An exercise programme, consisting of balance and jump exercises, is suggested to be performed at least twice per week in order to reduce the risk of lower extremity injury in elite orienteerers.

Characteristics of functional movement screening testing in elite handball players: Indicative data from the 9

OBJECTIVES

To test 9 + screening batterie's intra-rater reliability, to provide indicative data of elite handball players, and to analyze difference between age, playing positions and level of play.

DESIGN

Descriptive study.

SETTING

Icelandic elite male handball players.

PARTICIPANTS

182 elite male handball players.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Nine + screening battery.

RESULTS

Reliability test: Intra-class correlation for the total score was 0.95. The correlation of each of the test factors varied from 0.63 to 0.91. The mean total score was 22.3 ± 2.9 (95%CI 16.7-28.1), with no difference in total score comparing players age or level of play. Goalkeepers displayed a higher total score than other players (F_3,151 = 5.75, p = 0.001). Junior players had a lower score than senior players in tests measuring abdominal strength and core stability; Test 5; │²(3, 182) = 41.5, p < 0.0001, Test 6; │²(3, 182) = 55.7, p < 0.0001, Test 7; │²(3, 182) = 11.8, p < 0.005, but higher scores in tests measuring trunk and shoulder mobility Test 8; │²(3, 182) = 18.2, p < 0.0001, Test 9; │²(3, 182) = 22.2, p = 0.006.

CONCLUSIONS

The 9+ intra-rater reliability was acceptable for the total score and individual tests. Age-related differences were provided in many individual tests.