Prevention of Overuse Injuries by a Concurrent Exercise Program in Subjects Exposed to an Increase in Training Load
- 12 March 2008
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in The American Journal of Sports Medicine
- Vol. 36 (4), 663-670
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546508315469
Abstract
Background It is unknown whether an exercise program can prevent overuse injuries in the lower extremity. An often encountered and important risk factor for the development of lower extremity overuse injuries is an abrupt increase in activity level. Hypothesis A preventive training program based on a literature review of intrinsic risk factors, and performed concurrent with an increase in physical activity, can reduce the incidence of overuse knee injuries and medial tibial stress syndrome, as well as increase running distance. Study Design Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods A total of 1020 soldiers aged 20.9 years (range, 19–26 years) undergoing 3 months of basic military training consecutively enrolled from December 2004 to December 2005. The prevention program consisted of an exercise program of 15 minutes’ duration 3 times a week, including 5 exercises for strength, flexibility, and coordination; the placebo program consisted of 5 exercises for the upper body. Results During the observation period, 223 subjects sustained an injury, with 50 and 48 of these fulfilling the study criteria for overuse knee injuries or medial tibial stress syndrome, respectively. There were no significant differences in incidence of injury between the prevention group and the placebo group (incidence, 0.22 vs 0.19; P = .162; relative risk = 1.05 [range, 0.98–1.11]). The soldiers in the prevention group had the greater improvement in running distance in 12-minute run tests (82 vs 43 m; P = .037). Conclusion An exercise program with an emphasis on muscular strengthening, coordination, and flexibility based on intrinsic risk factors identified through a literature review did not influence the risk of developing overuse knee injuries or medial tibial stress syndrome in subjects undergoing an increase in physical activity. The program increased maximal running distance in a 12-minute test.Keywords
This publication has 38 references indexed in Scilit:
- Epidemiology and Aetiology of Marathon Running InjuriesSports Medicine, 2007
- A new framework for research leading to sports injury preventionJournal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2006
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome in RunnersSports Medicine, 2005
- Physical therapy alters recruitment of the vasti in patellofemoral pain syndromeMedicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2002
- Physical Therapy for Patellofemoral PainThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2002
- Muscular adaptations in response to three different resistance-training regimens: specificity of repetition maximum training zonesEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology, 2002
- Effect of localized muscle fatigue on vertical ground reaction forces and ankle joint motion during runningHuman Movement Science, 2001
- Hip Abductor Weakness in Distance Runners with Iliotibial Band SyndromeClinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 2000
- The Effect of Leg Strength on the Incidence of Lower Extremity Overuse Injuries during Military TrainingMilitary Medicine, 1999
- A prospective controlled study of diagnostic imaging for acute shin splintsMedicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 1998