Effects of a 10 vs. 20-Min Injury Prevention Program on Neuromuscular and Functional Performance in Adolescent Football Players

Abstract

Background: Regular injury prevention training is not only effective in reducing sports injury rates, but also in improving neuromuscular and performance-related variables. However, it is currently unknown if this effect can be modified by varying the training dosage. Objective: To compare the effects of two injury prevention programmes with a different training duration on neuromuscular control and functional performance in adolescent football players. Methods: 342 (15.4 ± 1.7 years) male football players from 18 teams were initially included. The teams were cluster-randomized into two intervention groups. Both groups performed an injury prevention program twice a week during one football season (10 months) using the same exercises but a different duration. One intervention group (INT10, n = 175) performed the program for 10 min, while the other intervention group (INT20, n = 167) for 20 min. At the beginning and end of the season, balance control (Balance Error Scoring System = BESS), jump performance (Squat Jump, Countermovement Jump) and flexibility (Sit and Reach Test, ankle flexibility, hip flexibility) tests were performed. For the final analysis, nine teams with 104 players were considered. Results: Significant group by time interactions were found for the sit and reach test (p < 0.001) and ankle flexibility (p < 0.001) with higher improvements in the INT20 group. Improvements over the period of one season but no group differences were found for the BESS, Squat Jump and hip flexibility. Conclusion: Within a single training session, performing structured neuromuscular training with a longer duration is more effective than a shorter duration for improving lower extremity flexibility.

Injury Profile among Elite Youth Male Football Players in a German Academy

“…Since football is one of the leading sports worldwide, research that focuses on this issue exists, but the results of practical implementation in youth football remains limited [28]. Rahlf et al proved that performing structured neuromuscular training with a longer duration ( > 20 minutes) pre-training is effective for improving lower extremity flexibility in in adolescent football players [29]. Van der Horst et al reported that incorporating the Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) protocol in regular training significantly reduces hamstring injury incidence in amateur football players in a randomized controlled trial [30].…”

Chronic and Residual Effects of a Two-Week Foam Rolling Intervention on Ankle Flexibility and Dynamic Balance

“…To account for possible dropouts, 42 participants were included. Effect size calculation was based on data of own studies using the WBLT and Y-Balance test (John et al, 2019 ; Rahlf et al, 2020 ).…”

Quo Vadis Nordic Hamstring Exercise-Related Research?—A Scoping Review Revealing the Need for Improved Methodology and Reporting

“…It remains to be investigated if high-quality and high-intensity NHE execution will result in more reliable data, higher compliance, and greater neuromuscular adaptations—especially at longer muscle lengths—compared to traditional high-volume interventions [ 2 , 7 , 8 , 19 , 64 , 81 ]. Progression of exercise volume with increasing strength level, as suggested by the FIFA 11+ program [ 15 , 33 , 92 , 96 , 120 , 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 , 133 , 134 ], might not be the method of choice for purposeful injury prevention [ 94 ]. Furthermore, the implementation of single- or multiple-set NHE regimen as part of the warm-up should be reconsidered and should instead be performed during the cool-down routine [ 42 , 56 , 58 , 81 , 135 ].…”