Secondary injury prevention reduces hamstring strain and time-loss groin injury burdens in male professional football

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a systems-based secondary injury prevention intervention aimed at early detection and management of hamstring strain injury (HSI) and time-loss groin injury in an Australian male professional football club.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Australian male professional football club.

Participants

Data were collected from male professional football players (n = 73) from a single football club.

Main outcome measures

Unilateral knee flexion and side-lying hip adduction maximum voluntary isometric contractions were monitored routinely in-season, two days post-match (≥40 h [h]) during a three-season intervention period. Strength reductions greater than the tests’ minimal detectable change percentage prompted intervention. HSI and time-loss groin injury burdens were calculated per 1000 player hours and compared with those from an immediately preceding two-season control period, to assess the effectiveness of the intervention.

Results

Across the intervention period, there was a decrease in HSI (4.98 days absence/1000 h (19.8%) decrease) and time-loss groin injury burdens (0.57 days absence/1000 h (49.1%) decrease) when compared with the control period.

Conclusions

A systems-based secondary injury prevention intervention shows preliminary positive findings in reducing HSI and time-loss groin injury burdens within a male professional football club, compared with usual care only.