Dataset Information

Effect of the FIFA 11+ soccer specific warm up programme on the incidence of injuries: A cluster-randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Soccer players incur injuries that typically affect their performance. Injuries are caused by intrinsic and extrinsic factors that call for multifactorial preventive interventions. The study examines the impact of the FIFA 11+ warm up programme on the incidence and severity of injuries in second division soccer players in Rwanda.

Methods

Twelve teams (309 players) were randomised in the intervention group and 12 teams (317 players) in the control group using a cluster randomized controlled trial with teams as the unit of randomization. Intervention group teams implemented the FIFA 11+ soccer specific warm-up programme during training and matches at least three times a week over seven months of the Rwandan soccer season. Control group teams continued with usual warm up exercises. The primary outcome of this study was the overall incidence of training and match injuries. Injuries, training and match exposure as well as severity categories were recorded per the F-MARC guidelines.

Results

A lower proportion of players sustained injuries in the intervention group (52%) compared to the control group (63%) (Odd ratio: 0.7; 95%CI: 0.5-0.9). A significantly lower rate ratio was observed in the intervention group for overall (RR = 0.6; 95%CI: 0.5-0.8) and match (RR = 0.6; 95%CI: 0.5-0.8) injuries. Compliance to the injury prevention programme was 77%. In the intervention group, the incidence of injury was similar across all teams and across the medium and highly compliant teams. There was a statistically significant 55% and 71% reduction of the rate of moderate and severe injuries in the intervention group respectively.

Conclusion

The 11+ warm up injury prevention programme resulted in a significant reduction in the odds of sustaining injuries. In addition, injuries sustained were less severe. The programme should be rolled out to all teams in Rwanda and may well result in a decrease in the incidence and severity of injury in similar contexts.

Trial registration

Pan African Clinical Trial Registry (PACTR201505001045388).

SUBMITTER: Nuhu A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8143390 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:IntroductionThe effects of the FIFA11+ programme (the 11+) on ankle and groin injuries and performance have remained questionable. The latter, particularly, has potentially reduced the implementation rate and applicability of the programme. This study aimed to evaluate the mid-to-long-term effects of the 11+ and a modified programme including football-specific exercises on injury prevention and performance improvement.Materials and methodsThree teams of the Iranian Youth League (division two) volunteered to participate in this study and were randomly assigned to two intervention groups (F11+; n = 29, M11+; n = 31) and a control group (n = 30). The F11+ followed the FIFA 11+ programme, whereas the M11+ performed modified exercises three times weekly as a warm-up protocol before training and competition through a football season. The control group carried out its routine warm-ups, including joggings, basic football drills, and static stretches, while having no injury prevention approaches. Lower extremity injuries, as well as exposure time for each player, were recorded. The football-specific performance was assessed using the Illinois Agility and Slalom Dribbling tests. ANOVA, Fisher Freeman Halton, and chi-square tests were used to analyze the data.ResultsInjury incidences differed significantly between groups (p = 0.02, C = 0.40), with M11+ reporting the lowest incidence. Significant differences between the pre- and posttest as well as differences between the groups for development over time were revealed for the Illinois agility and dribbling speed (p≤0.01). Both performance tests demonstrated a large time effect, as the effect sizes for time in agility and dribbling speed were 0.74 (CI = [0.66; 0.79]) and 0.86 (CI = [0.79; 0.87]), respectively. The effect size for the interaction can be categorized as medium, with 0.38 (CI = [0.25; 0.49]) for agility and 0.52 (CI = [0.40; 0.61]) for dribbling speed. M11+ showed the largest improvement in both.DiscussionMid-to-long-term application of a structured dynamic warm-up that integrates injury prevention and performance approaches may lower injury incidences and improve youth subelite players' performance. Although additional studies with larger samples are needed to prove the results of the current study, the amateur clubs/teams could integrate such twofold dynamic warm up into their routine training plan and benefit its advantages on injury prevention and performance improvement.

Project description:Background:Strong evidence supports the use of the FIFA 11?+?injury risk reduction warm-up program among soccer players, but few studies have investigated its impact on physical performance and movement control in athletes younger than 12 years of age, or the athletes' opinions of participating in the program. Purpose:The primary purpose of this study was to measure the impact of the FIFA 11?+?program on movement control [Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) and Y-Balance test (YBT)], agility, vertical jump (VJ) height, and trunk muscle endurance compared to a standard warm-up in pre-teen female athletes over one indoor soccer season. A secondary purpose was to assess the athletes' tolerance and enjoyment of the program. Study Design:Cluster randomized controlled trial. Methods:All six teams in the U10 and U11 female divisions of a developmental-level soccer club were cluster randomized to the FIFA 11?+?program intervention group or the control group. Participants in the control group continued with a coach-determined warm-up for the duration of a five-month indoor soccer season. Pre- and post-season participants underwent physical testing using the agility T-test, Belt Mat vertical jump (VJ), and static plank tests; and two measures of neuromuscular control (LESS, YBT). Following the soccer season, the athletes in the intervention group also completed a bespoke Tolerance and Enjoyment questionnaire. Results:The 11?+?group (n = 25) increased their mean static plank hold time by 26.1?±?38.5 seconds compared to the control group (n = 18), who only increased by 2.1?±?37.1 seconds (p = 0.047). For all athletes, there were improvements in mean LESS score (0.6?±?1.3, p = 0.003), and T-test time (0.4?±?0.7, p = 0.001); however, YBT scores worsened by approximately 2% from pre- to postseason. No differences were found for VJ. Athletes tolerated the program well, but the majority described the enjoyment of completing the program as moderately low. Conclusion:This study suggests that the 11?+?program may improve some aspects of physical performance in 9-11 year-old female soccer players, but the low enthusiasm for the program could have longer term adherence implications. Level of Evidence:2b.

Project description:BackgroundThe Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) 11+ Kids is an exercise-based injury prevention program developed by an international group of experts to prevent injuries among child soccer players.HypothesisIt was hypothesized that the FIFA 11+ Kids program would be more effective than performing a typical warm-up regimen in reducing overall injuries among soccer players aged 7 to 13 years.Study designA clustered randomized controlled trial.Level of evidenceLevel 1.MethodsA total of 94 boys' soccer teams, including 780 players, were randomly allocated into an experimental or control group. Complete datasets were collected from 45 teams (377 players) and 43 teams (363 players) in the experimental and control groups, respectively. The experimental group underwent the FIFA 11+ Kids program as a warm-up during training sessions and matches at least twice a week, and the control group continued performing their usual warm-ups. Participants were prospectively followed during 1 season (6 months). The primary outcomes included the incidence of overall and recurrent injuries and their mechanism and severity. The secondary outcome was the rate of compliance with the intervention program.ResultsA total of 43 injuries were reported in the experimental group in 50,120 hours of exposure (0.85 injuries/1000 exposure hours). A total of 86 injuries were reported in the control group in 42,616 hours of exposure (2.01 injuries/1000 exposure hours). The injury risk ratio was 0.43 (0.29-0.61), suggesting that the experimental group experienced 57% fewer injuries than those in the control group.ConclusionThe FIFA 11+ Kids program reduced overall injury rates in children playing soccer more than the usual warm-ups.Clinical relevanceThe results of this study provide evidence for children's coaches to consider including the FIFA 11+ Kids program in their warm-up regimen. Such a program may prevent injury risk and decrease absenteeism and injury-related financial burdens.