The Effects of the Gaelic Athletic Association 15 Training Program on Neuromuscular Outcomes in Gaelic Football and Hurling Players: A Randomized Cluster Trial

Abstract

O'Malley, E, Murphy, JC, McCarthy Persson, U, Gissane, C, and Blake, C. The effects of the Gaelic Athletic Association 15 training program on neuromuscular outcomes in Gaelic football and hurling players: A randomized cluster trial. J Strength Cond Res 31(8): 2119-2130, 2017-Team-based neuromuscular training programs for injury prevention have been tested primarily in female and adolescent athletes in soccer, handball, and basketball with limited research in adult male field sports. This study explored whether the GAA 15, a multifaceted 8-week neuromuscular training program developed by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), could improve risk factors for lower limb injury in male Gaelic footballers and hurlers. Four Gaelic sports collegiate teams were randomized into intervention or control groups. Two teams (n = 41), one football and one hurling, were allocated to the intervention, undertaking a 15 minutes program of neuromuscular training exercises at the start of team training sessions, twice weekly for 8 weeks. Two matched teams (n = 37) acted as controls, participating in usual team training. Lower extremity stability (Y-Balance test [YBT]) and jump-landing technique using the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) were assessed preintervention and postintervention. There were moderate effect sizes in favor of the intervention for right (d = 0.59) and left (d = 0.69) composite YBT scores, with adjusted mean differences between intervention and control of 3.85 ± 0.91% and 4.34 ± 0.92% for right and left legs, respectively (p < 0.001). There was a greater reduction in the mean LESS score in favor of the intervention group after exercise training (Cohen's d = 0.72, adjusted mean difference 2.49 ± 0.54, p < 0.001). Clinically and statistically significant improvements in dynamic balance and jump-landing technique occurred in collegiate level Gaelic football and hurling players who adopted the GAA 15, when compared with usual training. These findings support application and evaluation of the GAA 15 in other player groups within the Gaelic games playing population.

The Ability of the Landing Error Scoring System to Detect Changes in Landing Mechanics: A Critically Appraised Topic

“…One study 15 demonstrated changes in LESS scores for both groups, while three studies 14,16,17 demonstrated changes for the IPP groups only.…”

“…• O'Malley et al 17 demonstrated improvements in LESS scores after participating in the IPP. Improvements in Y-balance test reach directions and composite scores were also identified.…”

“…• All four included studies [14][15][16][17] demonstrated improvement in LESS scores from preintervention testing to postintervention testing. One study 15 demonstrated changes in LESS scores for both groups, while three studies 14,16,17 demonstrated changes for the IPP groups only.…”

“…Two studies 14,16 did not directly address concealed allocation of randomized groups. In addition, two studies 15,17 failed to report proper blinding of either the subjects or the clinicians administering the intervention and groups were not similar at baseline. Finally, one study 17 did not obtain an outcome measure for more than 85% of the subjects initially allocated.…”

“…Therefore, clinicians need to observe a decrease in one or more biomechanical errors to observe change outside of measurement error. O'Malley et al 17 used a "warm-up" style program and found an adjusted mean change in LESS scores of 2.5 in the IPP group, which exceeded the calculated MDC. For DiStefano, Marshall, et al, 15 the only change in LESS scores that exceeded the MDC was the premeasure versus the post-6-month measure.…”