Cost-effectiveness of an injury prevention program in male amateur soccer: A cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background:

Approximately 28% of all sports injuries in the Netherlands are the result of playing outdoor soccer. A cluster randomized controlled trial is designed to investigate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an injury prevention program (“The11”) in male amateur soccer players.



Methods:

Twenty-three teams, playing at first class amateur level in two districts in the Netherlands participate in this study. The teams in the intervention group are instructed to perform “The11” during each practice session throughout the 2009-2010 season. All participants of the control group are asked to continue their practice sessions as usual. For each team information of all injuries and related costs is systematically reported in an online system by a member of the medical staff. Individual player exposure to practice sessions and games is reported weekly by the coach. Also the use of the “The11” by the soccer coaches during the season after the intervention is monitored.



Discussion:

Prevention of soccer injuries would be beneficial for players, clubs, the Royal Dutch Soccer Association (KNVB), insurance companies and society. The hypothesis is that integrating the exercises of the “The11” in the warming up is beneficial regarding injury incidence, injury severity, corresponding medical costs and/or work absenteeism.

The hypothesis is that integrating the exercises of the “The11” in the warming up is beneficial regarding injury incidence, injury severity, corresponding medical costs and/or work absenteeism.

N/A

The injury prevention program “The11”, developed with the support of the World Soccer Association FIFA, aims at lowering the impact of the intrinsic injury risk factors in soccer. This program includes 10 exercises focusing on core stabilization, eccentric training of thigh muscles, proprioceptive training, dynamic stabilization and plyometrics with straight leg alignment. The 11th component, advice for fair play, is left out in this trial.



Twenty-three teams, playing at first class amateur level in two districts in the Netherlands participate in this study. The teams in the intervention group are instructed to perform “The11” during each practice session throughout the 2009-2010 season. All participants of the control group are asked to continue their practice sessions as usual.