The preventive effect of the bounding exercise programme on hamstring injuries in amateur soccer players: the design of a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundHamstring injuries are the most common muscle injury in amateur and professional soccer. Most hamstring injuries occur in the late swing phase, when the hamstring undergoes a stretch-shortening cycle and the hamstring does a significant amount of eccentric work. The incidence of these injuries has not decreased despite there being effective injury prevention programmes focusing on improving eccentric hamstring strength. As this might be because of poor compliance, a more functional injury prevention exercise programme that focuses on the stretch-shortening cycle might facilitate compliance. In this study, a bounding exercise programme consisting of functional plyometric exercises is being evaluated.MethodsA cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT). Male amateur soccer teams (players aged 18–45 years) have been randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. Both groups are continuing regular soccer training and the intervention group is additionally performing a 12-week bounding exercise programme (BEP), consisting of a gradual build up and maintenance programme for the entire soccer season. The primary outcome is hamstring injury incidence. Secondary outcome is compliance with the BEP during the soccer season and 3 months thereafter.DiscussionDespite effective hamstring injury prevention programmes, the incidence of these injuries remains high in soccer. As poor compliance with these programmes may be an issue, a new plyometric exercise programme may encourage long-term compliance and is expected to enhance sprinting and jumping performance besides preventing hamstring injuries.Trial registration NTR6129. Retrospectively registered on 1 November 2016.

Does a bounding exercise program prevent hamstring injuries in adult male soccer players? – A cluster‐RCT

“…The design of this prospective cluster‐randomized controlled trial has been described extensively in the research protocol …”

“…The bounding exercise program (BEP) is a 12‐week build‐up program (concentric to eccentric to plyometric exercises) and a maintenance program that takes approximately 3‐5 minutes to complete …”

“…Therefore, a new functional, soccer‐specific program was developed to reduce hamstring injuries, the bounding exercise program (BEP) . The BEP aims to improve long‐term compliance and increase both eccentric strength and neuromuscular control.…”

“…The BEP consists of a gradual build‐up from concentric, eccentric to plyometric exercises that can easily be incorporated in regular soccer training and which can be performed individually. The exercises are focused specifically on the late swing phase, during which most hamstring injuries occur, and accentuate the horizontal speed to cause optimal loading of the hamstring muscle . Plyometric exercises also increase functional performance in tasks common to soccer, such as sprinting and jumping.…”

“…23,24 Therefore, a new functional, soccer-specific program was developed to reduce hamstring injuries, the bounding exercise program (BEP). 26 The BEP aims to improve long-term compliance and increase both eccentric strength and neuromuscular control. The BEP consists of a gradual build-up from concentric, eccentric to plyometric exercises that can easily be incorporated in regular soccer training and which can be performed individually.…”