Preventing Injury in Elite Orienteerers

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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
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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.

Official Title
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Preventing Lower Extremity Injury in Elite Orienteerers

Conditions
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Lower Extremity Injury

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Exercise program


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Adult elite orienteerers Aged 18-40 years Participating in the highest national orienteering league (Swedish League) Participant inclusion criteria - Age group: Adult Participant inclusion criteria - Gender: Both Exclusion Criteria: Injured adult elite orienteerers not able to perform baseline tests

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: RCT, two groups (intervention/control)
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Intervention<br>The intervention consists of an exercise program developed by the medical team of the National Federation of Orienteering. Specifically, it consists of four exercises targeting strength, flexibility and coordination of the lower extremity. The orienteerers are asked to perform the 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 (online supplement). Each second week the exercises' difficulty level is increased. | Other: Exercise program<br>* 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.<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>Normal training, no intervention | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lower extremity injury | Number of substantial injuries in the lower extremity | March-June 2018 (10 weeks) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ankle sprain | Incidence of ankle sprains injuries | March-June 2018 (10 weeks) | 
| Substantial injury | The average substantial injury prevalence | March-June 2018 (10 weeks) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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elite orienteering