JOURNAL WATCH Journal Watch

SELF-REPORTED INJURY HISTORY AND LOWER LIMB FUNCTION AS RISK FACTORS FOR INJURIES IN FEMALE YOUTH SOCCER. Steffen K , Myklebust G,

Andersen TE, Holme I, Bahr R,

The American Journal of Sports Medicine 2008

Identifying and understanding injury risk factors are necessary to develop and target measures to prevent injuries. Because youth teams rarely have health care professionals working directly with the team, identifying players at increased risk through elaborate clinical tests is not feasible. Questionnaires may be a possible alternative as screening instruments. This study looked at whether injury

history and lower limb function assessed by a self-administered questionnaire represent risk factors for injury. Female soccer players (aged 14-16 years) were asked to complete a detailed questionnaire covering sports participation; history of previous injuries to the ankle, knee, hamstring, or groin; as well as present function of these 4 specific regions. A total of 1430 (71% of the entire cohort) were followed up to record injuries during the subsequent 8 months. The findings revealed that a history of a

previous injury to the ankle, knee, or groin increased the risk of new injuries to the same region. Reporting a reduced function (defined as <80% of the maximum score) for the ankle or knee was also a significant risk factor.

sportEX comment This is in effect confirming what

health professionals already know. If you don’t rehab an injury fully there is a tendency for it to reoccur. What it does highlight to coaches and parents is that junior sports teams need a trained therapist in attendance. There are plenty of them about and a simple questionnaire can help them prioritise treatments.

In keeping with with our pre-season theme, all the papers reported in this edition are relevant to the heavy training load of

the phase.

REPEATED SETS OR SINGLE SET OF RESISTANCE TRAINING - A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW. Bågenhammar S, Hansson EE. Advances in Physiotherapy 2007;9 (4):154-160

The aim of the paper was to review studies concerning single-set and multiple- set resistance training. Twenty-six articles were found, 19 randomised controlled trials and

seven studies without randomisation process. Out of the 26 articles, 11 showed similar increases in strength when comparing number of sets, mostly one set compared with three sets. Eight of the articles showed a greater increase when training with multiple sets. In four of the articles, the comparison was made between single-set training programmes, multiple-set programmes and periodised multiple-set programmes, showing superior results with periodised training. None of the articles reported superior strength gain in the single-set training group. There was no difference in outcome when comparing articles with trained subjects to articles with untrained subjects.

sportEX comment If you want to maintain levels, single sets are sufficient but to gain the greatest possible strength, the use of multiple-set training seems to be appropriate.

MUSCLE CRAMPING IN ATHLETES—RISK FACTORS, CLINICAL ASSESSMENT, AND MANAGEMENT. Schwellnus MP, Drew N, Collins M. Clinics in Sports Medicine 2008;27(1):183-194

Exercise-associated muscle cramping (EAMC) is defined as a painful, spasmodic, and involuntary contraction of skeletal muscle that occurs during or immediately after exercise. There is a high lifetime prevalence of EAMC in athletes,

specifically in endurance athletes. The most important risk factors for EAMC in athletes are:

n previous history of EAMC, and n performing exercise at a higher relative exercise intensity or duration, when compared with normal training and n participating in hot and humid environmental conditions. The diagnosis of EAMC is made clinically, and the most effective immediate management of EAMC is rest and passive stretching. The key to the prevention of EAMC is to reduce the risk of developing premature muscle fatigue.

sportEX comment This paper is highly relevant to the pre-season phase. There is no definitive reason

yet found to explain the onset of cramp although other papers have proposed (1) inherited abnormalities of substrate metabolism (‘metabolic theory’), (2) abnormalities of fluid balance (‘dehydration theory’), (3) abnormalities of serum electrolyte concentrations (‘electrolyte theory’) and (4) extreme environmental conditions of heat or cold (‘environmental theory’). All seem to increase the risk factor of getting cramp and point towards a prevention strategy of noting those with previous episodes and carefully grading intensity increase especially in the (hopefully) hot, summer conditions in the UK when the pre-season of our major winter calendar sports takes place or the sunny climes our county cricket and rugby league teams jet off to in February and March (see article on page 19).

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