The FIFA 11+ injury prevention program for soccer players: a systematic review

Context: Throwing-related injuries occur commonly in softball players. Preventative programs can be implemented to assist in identifying and correcting risk factors that could potentially lead to injury and therefore time missed from both practice and games. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if position-specific injury prevention programs have been developed to decrease the risk of throwing-related injuries in softball players. Data Sources: A systematic review was performed using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. PubMed, PMC, and EBSCO were searched for articles on injury prevention programs using the following key terms: softball, injury prevention, throwing injuries, pitcher, and shoulder. Study Selection: Studies that involved fast-pitch softball and included female participants as well as rehabilitation programs were included. Articles that highlighted slow-pitch softball or did not include female participants were excluded. Level of Evidence: Level 1. Data Extraction: The initial search identified 1605 articles. After implementing a filter, 131 articles remained. Thirteen articles were screened out as duplicates. After screening for inclusion criteria, 7 articles remained and were included in the systematic review. Results: Decreased range of motion (ROM) in both the upper and the lower extremities, unbalanced muscular strength, and fatigue were identified as risk factors for throwing injuries in softball players. Within the upper extremity, strength and ROM of the rotator cuff muscles, biceps, and extensors of the forearm were emphasized. The main focus of the lower extremity was the strength of the gluteal muscles and ROM of the lumbopelvic-hip complex. Only 1 study detailed an injury prevention program for softball players. The prevention program outlined was generalized for all softball players and was not position specific. Conclusion: There is a paucity of information about injury prevention programs for softball players. Of the evidence analyzed, balanced strengthening of the upper and lower extremities while maintaining dynamic range of motion was frequently utilized in developing an injury prevention program.

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Associations between player age and club soccer coaches’ perceptions of injury risk and lower extremity injury prevention program use

International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching ◽

10.1177/1747954117707480 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 122-128 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Elle A Morgan ◽

Samuel T Johnson ◽

Viktor E Bovbjerg ◽

Marc F Norcross

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Injury Prevention ◽

Prevention Program ◽

Injury Risk ◽

Prevention Programs ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Lower Extremity Injury ◽

Injury Prevention Program ◽

Program Awareness

The use of a lower extremity injury prevention program by female soccer players before the completion of puberty may mitigate movement changes that develop during puberty and contribute to post-pubescent females’ greater anterior cruciate ligament-injury risk. It is unknown whether club soccer coaches are using injury prevention programs with younger athletes and if player age is associated with soccer coaches’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding injury prevention programs. Fifty-four coaches of female soccer teams from Oregon and Washington states (USA) completed a web-based survey. Associations between team age (U9–U14 teams = 57 and U15–U19 teams = 19 teams) and coaches’ (a) attitudes and perceptions; and (b) injury prevention program awareness, adoption, and implementation fidelity were assessed. Coaches of U15–U19 teams perceived injuries to be more of a problem and soccer to present a high risk of injury. Coaches of older teams more strongly agreed that preventive exercises should be performed by their players during training. Injury prevention program awareness among coaches of U15–U19 and U9–U14 age groups was 79% and 60%, respectively. Injury prevention program-aware coaches of U15–U19 teams were more likely to use an injury prevention program than injury prevention program-aware coaches of U9–U14 teams (67% vs. 38%), but they were not more likely to do so with high fidelity (60% vs. 54%). Team age is associated with coaches’ short-term perceptions of injury risk, but not perceptions about the long-term ramifications of injury. Educating coaches about the potential benefits of injury prevention programs for mitigating injury-related maturational changes and the long-term ramifications of lower extremity injuries may facilitate greater use of injury prevention programs by coaches of younger female soccer players.

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