The prevention of injuries in contact flag football

American flag football is a non-tackle, contact sport with many moderate to severe contact-type injuries reported. A previous prospective injury surveillance study by the authors revealed a high incidence of injuries to the fingers, face, knee, shoulder and ankle. The objectives of the study were to conduct a pilot-prospective injury prevention study in an attempt to significantly reduce the incidence and the severity of injuries as compared to a historical cohort, as well as to provide recommendations for a future prospective injury prevention study. A prospective injury prevention study was conducted involving 724 amateur male (mean age: 20.0 +/- A 3.1 years) and 114 female (mean age: 21.2 +/- A 7.2 years) players. Four prevention measures were implemented: the no-pocket rule, self-fitting mouth guards, ankle braces (for those players with recurrent ankle sprains) and an injury treatment information brochure. An injury surveillance questionnaire was administered to record all time-loss injuries sustained in game sessions. There was a statistically significant reduction in the number of injured players, the number of finger/hand injuries, the incidence rate and the incidence proportion between the two cohorts (p < 0.05). This one-season pilot prevention study has provided preliminary evidence that finger/hand injuries can be significantly reduced in flag football. Prevention strategies for a longer, prospective, randomised-controlled injury prevention study should include the strict enforcement of the no-pocket rule, appropriate head gear, the use of comfortable-fitting ankle braces and mouth guards, and changing the blocking rules of the game

Comprehensive warm-up programme to prevent injuries in young female footballers: cluster randomised controlled trial

Objective To examine the effect of a comprehensive warm-up programme designed to reduce the risk of injuries in female youth football

Norwegian translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic shoulder and elbow questionnaire

ObjectivesTo translate, cultural adapt and evaluate the measurement properties of the Norwegian version of KJOC shoulder and elbow questionnaire.Methods33 overhead athletes (age 18.6±4.2, 10 men/23 women) were included in the analysis of face validity and known-group validity, of whom 15 went through cognitive interviews. An electronic version was developed, and six handball players were interviewed to ensure measurement equivalence between the paper-based and electronic version of the questionnaire. Test–retest reproducibility (1-week interval) and concurrent validity with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire was investigated in 36 handball players (age 20.7±3.8, 17 men/19 women).ResultsThe translation was conducted, and smaller consensus-based adjustments were made. Athletes found the questionnaire easy to understand, with no differences between paper and electronic based version, and preferred the electronic version. The Norwegian electronic version of the KJOC showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α=0.952) and relative test–retest reliability (Intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC=0.967). SEM, minimal detectable change (MDC) and limits of agreement were 3.1, 8.5 and −9.2 to 7.7, respectively. The concurrent validity versus DASH was moderate (Spearman’s rho=−0.642). However, KJOC had a wider range in scores than DASH, distinguished better between players playing with and without pain and was more sensitive to capture players playing with pain.ConclusionThis study suggests that the Norwegian version of the KJOC is a reliable and acceptable tool for evaluating shoulder and elbow-related problems in overhead athletes (handball players)

The effects of an omega-3 fatty acid and vitamins E and C on neuropsychological functions in schizophrenia and related psychoses.

There is ample evidence of disturbed membrane phospholipid metabolism and oxidative stress in schizophrenia. Trials with fatty acid and antioxidant supplementation have shown conflicting results as regards symptoms. This study is part of a larger multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Ethyl-Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and antioxidants (vitamins E and C) as add-on to antipsychotic drugs in younger patients with schizophrenia and related disorders. In the present study, we tested the effect of trial drugs on cognitive functioning in a geographically defined subgroup of these patients. Both patients (n=53) and controls (n=20) completed a broad battery of neuropsychological tests and were tested at baseline and at week 16. PUFA levels were measured in red blood cell (RBC) membranes. The longitudinal effects were analysed by Linear Mixed Model (SPSS 12.0). We expected the following hierarchy of effects, from greater to lower: 1) combined EPA and antioxidant treatment, 2) EPA or active antioxidants alone and 3) double placebo. In contrast to our expectations, performance on CPT and Stroop was impaired in the groups receiving single supplements. Antioxidants prolonged the Stroop- conflict time and EPA impaired sustained attention, as measured by CPT dprime. These effects were restricted to the low-PUFA group, according to the bimodal distribution of PUFA levels found in the larger study. Combining EPA and antioxidants had a non-significant beneficial effect on sustained attention in the low-PUFA group only, compared to placebo. There were no other significant effects of trial drugs on neuropsychological measures

ACL injury incidence in female handball 10 years after the Norwegian ACL prevention study: Important lessons learned

Success in injury prevention in the short run is possible. Several studies have documented that injuries can be prevented if programme compliance is sufficient. However, the efficacy of an intervention is in a controlled trial does not mean that it will be widely adopted and sustained and have an impact on public health. Finch outlined the Translating Research into Injury Prevention Practice framework, emphasising that only research that can and will be adopted by the participants, the coaches and sporting bodies will succeed in the long run. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries is an example where there are controlled studies showing promising efficacy (that the intervention is capable of producing the desired effect); however, their efficiency (whether the desired effect occurs under real-life conditions) is not known. We wanted to know ‘Have ACL injury prevention initiatives taken in Norway during the last decade been successful in the long run?’ We report our experience with Norwegian handball as an example, as this is an area where several initiatives (table 1) building on prevention trials have coincided with an ongoing surveillance programme