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Objective: To investigate the association between the acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) and running-related injuries (RRI). Methods: This is a secondary analysis using a database composed of data from three studies conducted with the same RRI surveillance system. Longitudinal data comprising running exposure (workload) and RRI were collected biweekly during the respective cohorts' follow-up (18–65 weeks). ACWR was calculated as the most recent (i.e., acute) external workload (last 2 weeks) divided by the average external (i.e., chronic) workload of the last 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks. Three methods were used to calculate the ACWR: uncoupled, coupled and exponentially weighted moving averages (EWMA). Bayesian logistic mixed models were used to analyse the data. Results: The sample was composed of 435 runners. Runners whose ACWR was under 0.70 had about 10% predicted probability of sustaining RRI (9.6%; 95% credible interval [CrI] 7.5–12.4), while those whose ACWR was higher than 1.38 had about 1% predicted probability of sustaining RRI (1.3%; 95% CrI 0.7–1.7). The association between the ACWR and RRI was significant, varying from a small to a moderate association (1–10%). The higher the ACWR, the lower the RRI risk. Conclusions: The ACWR showed an inversely proportional association with RRI risk that can be represented by a smooth L-shaped, second-order, polynomial decay curve. The ACWR using hours or kilometres yielded similar results. The coupled and uncoupled methods revealed similar associations with RRIs. The uncoupled method presented the best discrimination for ACWR strata. The EWMA method yielded sparse and non-significant results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of an exercise-based warm-up programme ("VolleyVeilig") on the one-season occurrence of musculoskeletal injuries among recreational adult volleyball players. A prospective randomised controlled trial was conducted over the 2017–2018 volleyball season. Recreational adult volleyball players were allocated either to an intervention or control group. The Dutch version of the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre questionnaire was used to register and monitor acute and overuse injuries. A total of 672 volleyball players were enrolled: 348 in the intervention group (mean age: 30) and 324 in the control group (mean age: 27). The incidence rate of acute injury was 21% lower in the intervention group, namely 8.9 versus 11.3 per 1,000 h in the control group (Cox mixed effects crude model: hazard ratio = 0.82 [95%CI: 0.69–0.98]; Cox mixed effects adjusted model: 0.85 [95%CI: 0.71–1.02]). No significant difference in mean prevalence of overuse injury was found between the intervention (4.8%) and control (4.2%) groups. The severity of injuries was not significantly different between groups, while injury burden was slightly lower in the intervention group. The exercise-based warm-up programme led to a trend in less acute injuries among recreational adult volleyball players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Field hockey is popular worldwide; however, it entails a risk of injury. Injuries hamper players' participation in the sport and impose a burden on public health. Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a structured exercise program among youth field hockey players on the injury rate, severity, and burden. Design: Quasi-experimental study. Setting: On field during 1 season of field hockey (October 2016 through June 2017). Patients or Other Participants: A convenience sample of 22 teams (291 players): 10 teams (135 players, mean age = 11.5 years [95% confidence interval (CI) = 11.2, 11.7 years]) in the intervention group and 12 teams (156 players, mean age = 12.9 years [95% CI = 12.6, 13.2 years]) in the control group. Intervention(s): The Warming-up Hockey program, a sexand age-specific, structured, evidence-informed warm-up program consisting of a preparation phase (ie, agility and cardiovascular warm-up exercises), movement skills (ie, stability and flexibility exercises), and sport-specific skills (ie, speed and strength exercises in field hockey situations). Participants in the control group performed their usual warm-up routines. Main Outcome Measure(s): Injury rate (ie, the number of injuries per 1000 player-hours of field hockey exposure), severity (ie, days of player time-loss), and burden on athletes' availability to play (ie, days of time loss due to injury per 1000 player-hours of field hockey exposure). Results: The injury rate was lower in the intervention group (hazard ratio of 0.64 [95% CI=0.38, 1.07]); however, this result was not statistically significant. The severity of injuries was similar in both groups (t statistic P = .73). The burden of injuries on players' field hockey participation was lower in the intervention group (difference of 8.42 [95% CI = 4.37, 12.47] days lost per 1000 player-hours of field hockey). Conclusions: Exposure to the Warming-up Hockey program was not significantly associated with a lower injury rate. No reduction was observed in the severity of injuries alone; however, the burden of injuries on players' field hockey participation was lower in the intervention group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]