TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - Low body mass and aerobic running fitness increase injury risk in elite Australian football
JO  - International journal of sports physiology and performance
A1  - Gastin, Paul B.
A1  - Meyer, Denny
A1  - Huntsman, Emy
A1  - Cook, Jill
SP  - 458
EP  - 463
VL  - 10
IS  - 4
N2  - PURPOSE: To assess the relationships between player characteristics (including age, playing experience, ethnicity, physical fitness) and in-season injury in elite Australian rules football. <br><br>DESIGN: Single cohort, prospective, longitudinal study. <br><br>METHODS: Player characteristics (height, body mass, age, experience, ethnicity, playing position), pre-season fitness (6min run, 40m sprint, 6x40m sprint, vertical jump) and in-season injury data were collected over four seasons from one professional Australian rules football club. Data were analysed for 69 players, for a total of 3879 player rounds and 174 seasons. Injury risk (odds ratio - OR) and injury severity (matches missed; rate ratio - RR) were assessed using a series of multi-level univariate and multivariate hierarchical linear models. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 177 injuries were recorded with 494 matches missed (2.8±3.3 matches/injury). The majority (87%) of injuries affected the lower body, with hamstring (20%) and groin/hip (14%) most prevalent. Nineteen players (28%) suffered a recurrent injury. Injury incidence was increased in players with low body mass (OR=0.887, p=0.005), poor 6 min run performance (OR=0.994, p=0.051) and playing as a forward (OR=2.216, p=0.036). Injury severity was increased in players with low body mass (RR=0.892, p 0.008), tall stature (RR=1.131, p=0.002), poor 6 min run (RR=0.990, p=0.006) and slow 40 m sprint (RR=3.963, p=0.082) performance. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The potential to modify intrinsic risk factors is greatest in the pre-season period and improvements in aerobic running fitness and increased body mass may protect against in-season injury in elite Australian football.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1555-0265
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2014-0257
ID  - ref1
ER  -