Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
Conditions
Keywords
Knee Injuries, Female, Football
Brief summary
Introduction: Women's football has experienced exponential growth over the last ten years. Its popularity is associated with an increase in anterior cruciate ligament injuries (ACL). They constitute a major current problem as they account for 43% of the injury burden during the sport season. Despite existing training programmes, no uniform criteria have been established to design a precise intervention protocol, with specific tasks linked to women's football, nor has it been proposed to optimise current programmes. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a comprehensive and specific training protocol focused on female football players with dynamic knee valgus (DKV) to prevent ACL injuries. Methodology: Randomised, double-blind, single-centre clinical trial protocol scheduled for the 2023-2024 season of women's football. There will be 2 groups: a group that will follow a specific ACL injury prevention protocol and a control group. The intervention period will last 12 weeks. Measurements will be taken at 3 time points. The biomechanics of the lower extremities, the dynamics of jumping and landing, as well as the pre and post training satisfaction of the players will be evaluated. Image capture and processing systems will be used in addition to tests such as the drop vertical jump test (DVJ), the LESS scoring system, among others. Future expectations: This protocol aims to be one of the first to implement an ACL injury prevention programme for women football players with DKV. Despite the scarcity of research in this area, studies support beneficial effects at a preventive level.
Interventions
OTHERApplication of an anterior cruciate ligament injury prevention protocol for female football players with dynamic knee valgus for 12 weeks.
12-week ACL Injury Prevention Protocol
OTHERPlacebo - Conventional fitness programme
Conventional training and physical preparation programme
Sponsors
Amanda Coves García
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Double blind masking
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Female football players registered and federated in the corresponding team. * With an age range between 18 and 35 years old. * Minimum experience of one year playing football. * With DKV presence.
Exclusion criteria
* Subjects with previous ACL or other ligamentous injury to the knee. * Subjects with a history of lower extremity injury resulting in surgery during the six months prior to the study. * Players with chronic illnesses that may affect test results. * Subjects who played other sports at a professional level.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| CHANGING RISK FACTORS | 12 weeks | modification of risk factors such as dynamic knee valgus |
| MOTOR CONTROL | 12 weeks | Changes in motor control not only of the lower limbs, but also of the lumbo-pelvic complex using software and imaging systems that measure joint alignments. |
| SPORT PERFORMANCE | 12 weeks | Tactical and technical changes are expected on the pitch as well as improvements in the sporting performance of the players through dynamic evaluations with imaging and video systems as well as speed and agility tests by monitoring joint stability. |
| KNEE JOINT BIOMECHANICS | 12 weeks | Changes in neuromuscular control of the knee using imaging and force plate assessments to monitor lower limb alignment and areas of increased reaction force. |
| SPORTSWOMEN SATISFACTION | 12 weeks | Changes in the incidence of injuries among female football players using the SF-12 satisfaction scale. |
Countries
Spain
Contacts
Primary ContactAmanda Coves, Physiotherapy
Outcome results
None listed