@article{ref1,
title="Can we reduce injury risk during the adolescent growth spurt? An iterative sequence of prevention in male academy footballers",
journal="Annals of human biology",
year="2023",
author="Johnson, David and Williams, Sean and Bradley, Ben and Cumming, Sean P.",
volume="50",
number="1",
pages="452-460",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The adolescent growth spurt is associated with an increased risk of injury in young athletes.<br><br>AIM: This study aimed to use an interdisciplinary collaboration between technical coaches, sports scientists, and medical staff to mitigate this risk.<br><br>SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 77 male academy footballers were followed across two seasons. At-risk players were identified using somatic maturity status and growth rate in stature and the lower limbs, using thresholds of 88% to 92.8% of predicted adult stature, ≥7.2 cm/year, and ≥3.6 cm/year, respectively. During the 2019-20 season, players with symptoms of a growth-related injury or two of three risk factors were included in an intervention strategy that included modified training load, football-specific skills, balance, coordination and landing drills, and an individualised strength program.<br><br>RESULTS: For players with the three risk factors, there was a significant reduction in the incidence (rate ratio [RR] = 0.14 (5.2 per 1000h → 0.8 per 1000h, p = 0.05) and burden (RR = 0.08 (216 per 1000h → 17 per 1000h, p = 0.02) between the seasons. For players with ≤2 risk factors, there were no significant differences in injury risk between the baseline and intervention seasons.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Overall, it may be possible to mitigate injury incidence and burden during the adolescent growth spurt in high-risk athletes.  Keywords: Soccer<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0301-4460",
doi="10.1080/03014460.2023.2261854",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2023.2261854"
}