Preventing Injury in Elite Orienteerers

Lower Extremity Injury Clinical Trial

Official title:

Preventing Lower Extremity Injury in Elite Orienteerers

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03408925
• Other study ID #: 4-1645/2017
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: February 27, 2018
• Est. completion date: October 15, 2018

Study information

• Verified date: February 2020
• Source: Karolinska Institutet
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial 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.

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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 66
• Est. completion date: October 15, 2018
• Est. primary completion date: June 20, 2018
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 40 Years

Eligibility

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

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Lower Extremity Injury
• Wounds and Injuries

Intervention

Other:
• Exercise program
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.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Sweden	Karolinska Institutet	Huddinge

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Karolinska Institutet

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Sweden, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Lower extremity injury	Number of substantial injuries in the lower extremity	March-June 2018 (10 weeks)
Secondary	Ankle sprain	Incidence of ankle sprains injuries	March-June 2018 (10 weeks)
Secondary	Substantial injury	The average substantial injury prevalence	March-June 2018 (10 weeks)