BackgroundThe incidence rate of soccer injuries is among the highest in sports, particularly for adult male soccer players.PurposeTo investigate the effect of the ‘The11’ injury prevention programme on injury incidence and injury severity in adult male amateur soccer players.Study designCluster-randomised controlled trial.MethodsTeams from two high-level amateur soccer competitions were randomly assigned to an intervention (n=11 teams, 223 players) or control group (n=12 teams, 233 players). The intervention group was instructed to perform The11 in each practice session during one soccer season. The11 focuses on core stability, eccentric training of thigh muscles, proprioceptive training, dynamic stabilisation and plyometrics with straight leg alignment. All participants of the control group continued their practice sessions as usual.ResultsIn total, 427 injuries were recorded, affecting 274 of 456 players (60.1%). Compliance with the intervention programme was good (team compliance=73%, player compliance=71%). Contrary to the hypothesis, injury incidences were almost equal between the two study groups: 9.6 per 1000 sports hours (8.4–11.0) for the intervention group and 9.7 (8.5–11.1) for the control group. No significant differences were found in injury severity, but a significant difference was observed in the location of the injuries: players in the intervention group sustained significantly less knee injuries.ConclusionsThis study did not find significant differences in the overall injury incidence or injury severity between the intervention and control group of adult male soccer players. More research is recommended, focusing on injury aetiology and risk factors in adult male amateur soccer players.

NTR2416.

Background and aimsApproximately 16% of all sports injuries in the Netherlands are caused by outdoor soccer. A cluster-randomised controlled trial has been designed to investigate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an injury prevention programme (‘The11’) for male amateur soccer players. The injury prevention programme The11, developed with the support of the World Football Association FIFA, aims to reduce the impact of intrinsic injury risk factors in soccer.MethodsTeams playing at first-class amateur level in two districts in the Netherlands are participating in the study. Teams in the intervention group were instructed to apply The11 during each practice session throughout the 2009–10 season. All participants of the control group continued their practice sessions as usual. All soccer-related injuries and related costs for each team were systematically reported online by a member of the medical staff. Player exposure to practice sessions and matches was reported weekly by the coaches. Also the use of The11 during the season after the intervention season will be monitored.DiscussionOur hypothesis is that integrating the The11 exercises in the warm-up for each practice session is effective in terms of injury incidence, injury severity, healthcare use, and its associated costs and/or absenteeism. Prevention of soccer injuries is expected to be beneficial to adult soccer players, soccer clubs, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), health insurance companies and society.

Background: Ankle sprains are common injuries, associated with high healthcare and societal costs. After sustaining an acute ankle sprain, ankle taping is the standard treatment in the Netherlands. Ankle braces are sometimes used as an alternative. The aim of the present study was to assess the costs-effectiveness of soft ankle bracing compared to ankle tape treatment in patients with an acute lateral ankle ligamentous sprain (ALALS).

BackgroundCompliance with and attitudes towards injury prevention programs, like ‘The11’ (from FIFA), can influence the effectiveness of such programs.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to monitor the use of the ‘The11’ during practice sessions in one season and to determine opinions of coaches and players concerning this program.DesignThis study is part of a cluster-randomised controlled trial on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of ‘The11’.SettingFirst class amateur teams from one district in the Netherlands participated in this study. They all had practice sessions 2–3 times a week.ParticipantsMale players aged 18–40 years were eligible for inclusion in the study. 10 teams, including 212 players, participated and were followed for one season (September 2009–June 2010).InterventionThe participating teams were instructed to perform ‘The11’, during each practice session throughout the season.Main outcome measurementsCompliance of all players was registered each session by the coaches. At the end of the season coaches as well as players were asked to fill in a questionnaire to assess their attitudes towards ‘The11’ and injury prevention in general.ResultsPreliminary results show that teams completed ‘The11’ in 81% of all practice sessions and players in 84% of the sessions they attended.All the coaches (n=12) stated that including injury prevention in the practice sessions is important. 53% of the players returned their questionnaire (n=110). Of them 54.8% was moderately to highly motivate to perform ‘The11’ during each practice session. On average a third of the players mentioned every exercise as ‘boring’. Coaches and players believed that ‘bench’, ‘sideways bench’ and ‘hamstrings’ are the most important three (from 10) exercises to prevent soccer injuries.ConclusionMore extensive results of this study are expected in February 2011. Also the correlations between compliance, attitudes and injuries can be presented in Monaco.