TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2023//
TI  - Can we reduce injury risk during the adolescent growth spurt? An iterative sequence of prevention in male academy footballers
JO  - Annals of human biology
A1  - Johnson, David
A1  - Williams, Sean
A1  - Bradley, Ben
A1  - Cumming, Sean P.
SP  - 452
EP  - 460
VL  - 50
IS  - 1
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 0301-4460
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2023.2261854
ID  - ref1
ER  -