Preventing Injury in Elite Orienteerers
Condition: Lower Extremity Injury
MeSH terms: Wounds and Injuries
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The aim of this study is to investigate the effect a specific exercise program on the
      incidence of injuries in the lower extremity. 72 elite orienteerers, aged 18-40 years, are
      allocated to an intervention or control group. The intervention group performs four specific
      exercises, four times a week (10 minutes per session) in conjunction with normal training.
      Injury data are collected every second week using valid injury questionnaire distributed by
      text messages over 14 weeks. Primary outcome is number of substantial injuries in the lower
      extremity. Secondary outcomes are incidence of ankle sprains and the average substantial
      injury prevalence across the 10 weeks.
    

Detailed description: 
      The high physical load associated with running through uneven terrain contributes to that
      orienteerers are exposed to high injury risk, where the majority of injuries located in the
      lower extremities. Specific training programmes have been effective at reducing injury risk
      in sports. Yet, not trial has been conducted in elite orienteering. The aim of this study is
      to investigate the effect a specific exercise program on the incidence of injuries in the
      lower extremity. 72 elite orienteerers, aged 18-40 years, are allocated to an intervention or
      control group. The intervention group performs four specific exercises, with three difficult
      levels intensified every second week over the first four weeks, targeting strength,
      flexibility and coordination of the lower extremity. The exercises are completed four times a
      week (10 minutes per session) in conjunction with normal training. Injury data are collected
      every second week using valid injury questionnaire distributed by text messages over 14
      weeks. Primary outcome is number of substantial injuries in the lower extremity. Secondary
      outcomes are incidence of ankle sprains and the average substantial injury prevalence across
      the 10 weeks. Participants will be recruited in January-February 2018. The intervention
      starts in February 2018 and data collection will be completed in June 2018. Data analyses are
      expected to be completed in October-November 2018.

      Due to high injury risk and lack of injury prevention trials in orienteering, a RCT
      investigating the effect of a specific exercise program on the incidence of injuries in the
      lower extremity, is warranted. The results of this trial will be beneficial to orienteerers,
      clubs, federations and increase our understanding on how lower extremity injuries can be
      prevented in a physically challenging sport.
    

Intervention name(s): Exercise program
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): The orienteerers are asked to perform specific exercises four times a week throughout the entire study period. The exercises are heel rises, runners pose, single leg stance and one-leg jumps with three difficult levels aiming to mainly improve lower extremity strength and neuromuscular function. Each second week the exercises' difficulty level is increased.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: RCT, two groups (intervention/control)
Masking: Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: elite orienteering