Effects of App-based Versus Personal On-site Instruction on Neuromuscular Activity in Injury Prevention Exercises

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate neuromuscular characteristics observed during a single bout of selected and validated injury preventive exercises instructed by an app (in accordance with 'Get set - Train smarter') versus gold standard instruction, supervision and feedback provided on-site by an expert. The present evaluation targets a population of female football and handball players without any previous exposure to injury prevention training.

Official Title
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Immediate Effects of App-based Versus Personal On-site Instruction on Neuromuscular Activity in Injury Prevention Exercises: Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Injury, Knee, Musculoskeletal Injury

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: APP
* Behavioral: PHY


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: female handball or football player (≥ 18 years old) competing at sub-elite level (i.e., 2-3 weekly training sessions) Exclusion Criteria: previous traumatic knee injury, lower limb injury at the time of testing and/or previous engagement in injury prevention practices.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: APP<br>In the APP group, a video sequence of each exercise, supported by short written descriptions (in accordance to 'Get set - Train smarter', (9) on how to perform the exercise correctly, was shown to the participants on an iPad. The video-recorded exercises were performed by the same physiotherapist who supervised PHY participants. If required, the participants in the APP group were allowed to watch the video and description several times between trials of the same exercise. The participants approved their own trials when they believed that the exercises had been performed as described. | Behavioral: APP<br>* See arm description<br>|
| Active Comparator: PHY<br>In PHY, a physiotherapist demonstrated and explained the focus areas of each of the five exercises before the participant performed the exercises. If needed, verbal feedback was given between trials to correct the performance of the exercise. The physiotherapist approved trials that were performed with proper technique. | Behavioral: PHY<br>* see arm description<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Normalized hamstring EMG | Normalized to isometric MVC hamstring muscle EMG amplitude recorded during the exercise. | 5 minutes after instruction | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Normalized quadriceps EMG | Normalized EMG amplitude of the quadriceps muscle recorded during the exercise. | 5 minutes after instruction | 
| Joint angle | Joint angle during the exercise | 5 minutes after instruction |