Implementation of a neuromuscular training programme in female adolescent football: 3-year follow-up study after a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Background Neuromuscular training (NMT) has been shown to reduce anterior cruciate

ACL Research Retreat VII: An Update on Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk Factor Identification, Screening, and Prevention

“…284,285 However, knowledge and beliefs may not affect program adherence, 284,286 so other motivational factors must be considered. Coaches may be hesitant to implement an ACL injury-prevention program because they may feel it is ''too much,'' not their primary interest, [286][287][288] does not offer a relative advantage over their existing practices, does not align with their needs, or is too complex to implement in their setting. 289 Yet having support from coaches and senior administrators is extremely important.…”

It will take more than an existing exercise programme to prevent injury

“…They also frequently fail to implement IPEPs regularly and consistently 5. Programme fidelity can be enhanced through adequate resourcing (manuals, apps, online resources, etc), training, feedback and mentoring 7…”

“…The ACL injury rate was 88% lower in highly compliant players, compared to those with low compliance 4. A 3-year follow-up,5 also published in this journal, investigated if coaches from the original trial and others in the same target population were still using the IPEP, and found that many had modified it (74–77%) or had not implemented it regularly across the season (52–60%). Others did not know about the programme, or had chosen not to adopt it 5…”

Strength Training and Metabolic Conditioning for Female Youth and Adolescent Soccer Players

“…Neuromuscular training maybe ideally suited to dedicated sessions planned within a training week yet practitioners can be limited to a 15-20 minute warm-up period to deliver their intervention. Specific warm-up protocols such as the FIFA11+ or the COREPAC (8) run prior to soccer training could be a time efficient solution but only if barriers to compliance can be overcome (3,29,44,49,57).…”

“…This is evident in the compliance of female soccer players to neuromuscular training programs which can improve physical performance (15,43,45) and reduce injury risk factors (12,44,50,51,57,59) when implemented successfully. Studies, however, often report poor compliance with the training intervention (1, 12,44,59) or poor intervention fidelity (29). For example one study demonstrated neuromuscular training improved star excursion balance score yet 31% of players had to be excluded as they did not comply with the intervention (15).…”