Objectives This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a systems-based secondary injury prevention intervention aimed at early detection and management of hamstring strain injury (HSI) and time-loss groin injury in an Australian male professional football club. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Australian male professional football club. Participants Data were collected from male professional football players (n = 73) from a single football club. Main outcome measures Unilateral knee flexion and side-lying hip adduction maximum voluntary isometric contractions were monitored routinely in-season, two days post-match (=40 h [h]) during a three-season intervention period. Strength reductions greater than the tests` minimal detectable change percentage prompted intervention. HSI and time-loss groin injury burdens were calculated per 1000 player hours and compared with those from an immediately preceding two-season control period, to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. Results Across the intervention period, there was a decrease in HSI (4.98 days absence/1000 h (19.8%) decrease) and time-loss groin injury burdens (0.57 days absence/1000 h (49.1%) decrease) when compared with the control period. Conclusions A systems-based secondary injury prevention intervention shows preliminary positive findings in reducing HSI and time-loss groin injury burdens within a male professional football club, compared with usual care only.
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