Browsing by Author "Pasanen, Kati"

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    Change of Direction Movement Evaluation in Soccer-Specific Environment with Inertial Measurement Units: Guiding Practice and Test Tasks in Youth Soccer
    (2023-06-02) Alanen, Aki-Matti; Pasanen, Kati; Benson, Lauren C.; Jordan, Matthew J.; Ferber, Reed
    Soccer players perform a multitude of change of direction (COD) movements while playing. This multiplanar movement has been related to both performance and injury-risk in previous studies. However, traditional testing of COD ability has been done with preplanned protocols that lack the aspect of perception and reaction and commonly use only running time as the main variable. Therefore, the main objectives of this thesis were to explore novel methods of COD testing with the use of inertial measurement units (IMUs) in both preplanned soccer-specific tests and during game-play. The results of Chapter Three suggest that neither peak resultant acceleration (PRA) nor peak angular velocity (PAV) is a reliable metric in final foot contact (FFC) analysis of 180° pivot turns. The intra-class correlations (ICC) for pivot turns on both sides were unacceptable. However, when separating females and males it was found that the reliability in female participants was significantly better. In Chapter Four, the in-season variability of PRA was found to be different between previously injured players and injury free players, specifically during the FFC of 180° pivot turns. Chapter Five expanded upon the game-specific demands on COD movements based on playing positions. Significant differences in volume and types of CODs by playing position were found, which raises the question if youth soccer player testing for multiplanar movement abilities, should consider specific playing position related demands better in the future. Chapter Six complemented the studies by providing results of measurements obtained with IMUs in relation to situational patterns during game-play. The findings indicated that running speed, COD angle, pressure from opposing player, and contact with another player prior or during the cut would increase the acceleration during the COD, thus increasing the demands of the neuromuscular system. In conclusion, following one or two specific metrics at single timepoints to analyze COD ability is not recommended. Future research should search for methods involving perception-reaction while performing COD and these could be complemented with wearable technology measures. The combinations of multiple variables could be used to follow-up fluctuations of player performance through a longer follow-up period.
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    Examining workload in dancers: How much and how hard are dancers working?
    (2023-01-13) Volkova, Valeriya Georgivna; Kenny, Sarah; Ferber, Reed; Benson, Lauren; Pasanen, Kati
    As artistic athletes, dancers participate in long hours of training, increasing their risk of injury. Workload, which describes how much and how hard dancers work, can improve our understanding of dancers’ training and lead to the development of effective injury prevention strategies. Therefore, the main objective of this thesis was to investigate dancers’ workloads across all dance genres and dance levels of participation, examine how wellness factors influence dancers’ workloads, and explore dancers’, dance teachers’ and dance parents’ attitudes and current use practices of wearable technology in the dance studio environment. In Chapter Two, a systematic search of the literature identified that the most common tool used to quantify dancers’ workload was ‘hours’, although it does not account for the intensity of dance training. The observed trend in dance workload research is moving from capturing only exposure or intensity of training, to capturing workload where both the volume and intensity of dance training is considered. In Chapter Three, longitudinal monitoring of female undergraduate university dancers’ workloads and wellness found that the dancers’ workloads were not significantly associated with any of the seven wellness factors examined. In Chapter Four, dancers’ external workloads were quantified using wearable technology and video movement analysis. Dancers’ external workloads were higher than 70,000AU in a session, and were larger in classes than rehearsals. In a typical dance session, transitions were the most commonly performed dance movement, followed by floor rolls, and jumps. In Chapter Five, dancers, dance teachers, and dance parents reported modest attitudes towards wearable technology and high self-efficacy of using wearable technology. Prevalence of using wearables in the studio was approximately 50%, with smartwatches and wristband activity trackers being the most common devices used. Identified barriers to using wearables in dance included dance studio rules, not having a device, and lack of interest in wearables. In conclusion, a wide range of tools and devices can be used to monitor dancers’ workloads, allowing for prospective workload monitoring, and paving the way for the workload-injury association to be examined in dance.
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    The Influence of Peer-to-Peer Learning via Technology on Youth Soccer Coaches’ Neuromuscular Training Warm-up Exercise Error Detection
    (2020-06-25) Taddei, Larissa Mikayla; Pasanen, Kati; Emery, Carolyn; Katz, Larry; Culos-Reed, Susan Nicole
    Objective: To evaluate whether a peer-to-peer (P2P) learning technology integrated instruction (intervention) workshop, compared to a standard in person instruction (control) workshop improves coaches’ self-efficacy and ability to identify neuromuscular training warm-up exercise errors. Methods: Calgary Minor Soccer Association clubs (n= 6) agreed to participate in a randomized controlled trial. In each club, one of each type of workshop were randomly allocated to the scheduled dates. Coaches (n=85) randomly attended a control or intervention workshop. At the end of the workshop, the soccer NMT warm-up exercise test, a video-based test where coaches identify common NMT exercise errors, was completed. At the beginning and end of the workshop, the soccer NMT warm-up self-efficacy scale was completed to assess coaches’ self-efficacy in their ability to identify NMT exercises errors on a 7-point Likert scale. Results: Eighty-five youth soccer coaches attended the control (n=41) or the intervention workshop (n= 44). Mean NMT warm-up exercise test scores were 72% (95% CI: 68.38 - 76.44) for the control and 71% (95% CI: 67.50 - 79.38) for the intervention workshop. Mean change in NMT warm-up self-efficacy scores were 0.98 (95% CI: 0.56 – 1.40) for the control and 1.77 (95% CI: 1.41 – 2.14) for the intervention workshop. Multivariable linear regression analyses indicated that workshop delivery method was not associated with the exercise test score (beta= -3.45, 95%CI: -10.80 - 3.91, R2=0.13) but was associated with a greater difference in change of self-efficacy scores for the intervention workshop (beta= 0.97, 95%CI: 0.26 – 1.89, R2=0.13). Conclusions: A P2P learning technology integrated instructional workshop did not alter coaches tested ability to identify exercise mistakes but did increase coaches’ self-efficacy in identifying exercise mistakes compared to a standard in person workshop.
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    Injuries in Canadian female high school rugby and coach perceptions of injury prevention: Informing an injury prevention implementation strategy
    (2021-01-06) Shill, Isla Jordan; Emery, Carolyn A.; Hagel, Brent Edward; Black, Amanda M.; Pasanen, Kati
    This MSc thesis contains two projects focused on Canadian high school rugby. The first project is an evaluation of the epidemiology of female high school rugby in a Canadian context. Objective: To describe injury rates in female high school rugby and evaluate the association between baseline risk factors and injury outcomes. Methods: Injury surveillance was completed during a two-year prospective cohort study in the Calgary female high school rugby league. Results: Injury and concussion incidence rates were 93.7 injuries/ 1000 match-hours and 37.5 concussions/ 1000 match-hours, respectively. Injury within the past twelve months was associated with higher match injury rates. Higher team playing division was associated with higher training injury rates. The second project is an evaluation of the Canadian high school rugby coaching context. Objective: To describe the Canadian high school rugby coach context and evaluate intention to use a rugby-specific neuromuscular training warm-up. Methods: High school rugby coaches participated in a 2-hour “Train-the-Coach” neuromuscular training warm-up workshop. Pre- and post-workshop questionnaires were administered. Results: Pre-workshop, 92% of coaches agreed or strongly agreed they would ‘complete a rugby-specific warm-up program prior to every game and training session this season’. Post-workshop, 85% of coaches partly or strongly agreed that they “would conduct the SHRed Injuries program in every session with their students/athletes/client”. Conclusions: Injury and concussion rates in Canadian female high school rugby are high and intention to use a rugby-specific neuromuscular training warm-up was high before and after the workshop.
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    Injury Prevention in Youth Tackle Football
    (2023-09-22) Cairns, Joshua Thomas; Emery, Carolyn Ann; Schneider, Kathryn J; Jordan, Matthew J; Pasanen, Kati; Smith, Julianne D
    This thesis contains two projects that aim to investigate injury and injury prevention strategies in Canadian adolescent tackle football. The first project aimed to examine the current utilization of Neuromuscular Training components (NMT) in tackle football warm-ups and the second project examined adolescent (ages 14-17) tackle football epidemiology. Objectives: 1. To describe the current time spent by adolescent tackle football teams in five key neuromuscular training (NMT) components (aerobic, agility, balance and coordination, strength, and head on neck control) and determine if time in warm-up components differed throughout the season. 2. To describe injury rates, burden, types, mechanisms, and risk factors in adolescent (ages 14-17) community tackle football players in one season. Methods: Teams consented to video-recording of practice and game warm-ups. Video was analyzed using Dartfish tagging software (Dartfish, USA). Validated injury surveillance methods were used during a prospective cohort in a single nine-week competition season for participants aged 14-17. Injury rates (IR), concussion rates (CR), and incidence rate ratios (IRR) were reported based on univariable Poisson regression analyses (offset by player-hours and controlling for cluster by team). Results: Teams spent a median of 456.2 seconds in warm-up prior to sessions and a median time of 275 seconds in active warm-up components. Teams spent more time in some NMT components (aerobic and strength) compared to others (balance, agility and coordination, and head on neck control), however other than aerobic (58%) the use of other NMT components was low (time in NMT components 1-9%). Teams were relatively consistent with component utilization throughout the season. The overall IR was 4.61 injuries/1000 player-hours (95%CI; 3.84 – 5.53) and the CR was 1.20 concussions/1000 player-hours (95%CI; 0.90-1.61). Concussion rates were higher in games (IR=3.86 concussions/1000 player game-hours 95%CI; 2.74 – 5.43) than practices (IR=0.44 concussions/1000 practice player hours, 95%CI;0.25 – 0.75) (IRR=8.82,95%CI; 4.52- 18.27). Previous history of injury in the past 12 months (IRR=1.66,95%CI; 1.07-2.57) and being obese (BMI > 30.00) (IRR=2.55, 95%CI; 1.35-4.84) were associated with higher rates of practice-related injury. Lifetime history of concussion (IRR=1.58, 95%CI; 1.00 – 2.50) and being in the 75th percentile for height (IRR=1.58, 95%CI; 1.19 – 2.18) were associated with higher game-related injury rates, with the former being insignificant and the latter significant. Conclusions: Injury and concussion rates are high in adolescent tackle football. There are opportunities for research examining injury and concussion prevention strategies in tackle football in Canada. Football teams do not engage in NMT warm-up components and there is significant opportunity for implementation of such a prevention strategy in this sport.
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    Motivation and Social Factors Associated with Exercise Fidelity in a Basketball Neuromuscular Training Prevention Warm-up in Youth
    (2019-09-18) Befus, Kimberley Darlene; Emery, Carolyn A.; McDonough, Meghan H.; Pasanen, Kati; Kenny, Sarah J.; McCormack, Gavin R.
    Objective: To establish the reliability of an observational tool for the evaluation of exercise fidelity and to understand the influence of motivational and social factors, in the basketball context, on exercise fidelity to the SHRed Injuries Basketball Neuromuscular warm-up program in youth. Methods: First, an inter-rater reliability study for the evaluation of exercise fidelity by an expert and non-expert rater which consisting of two rounds of training, practice and exercise fidelity evaluation using video clips. Percent agreement and Bland Altman agreement were used to evaluate the reliability of ratings between an expert and non-expert rater. Second, a prospective cohort study in which 66 high school basketball players, participating in the 2018-2019 school basketball season, completed questionnaires which addressed the constructs of perceived autonomy support, quality of change-oriented feedback, motivation and perceived competence, in the basketball context. Approximately one-week later players were filmed completing the warm-up as part of their normal routine. Exercise fidelity was evaluated by the non-expert rater using the video clips. Conditional process analysis was used to analyse the purposed models. Results: An acceptable level of reliability was reached for the evaluation of exercise fidelity. Autonomy support was a direct negative predictor and an indirect positive predictor, via autonomous motivation, of exercise fidelity. Autonomous motivation was a positive predictor of exercise fidelity. Self-determined motivation and quality of change-oriented feedback were not found to be significant predictors of exercise fidelity. Conclusions: Autonomy support and autonomous motivation may play a role in player adherence to an injury prevention warm-up program.
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    Pre-season Screening and Injury Surveillance of Pre-Professional Dancers: A Longitudinal Study
    (2022-09) Critchley, Meghan; Kenny, Sarah; Pasanen, Kati; Ferber, Reed; Benson, Lauren
    Few dance epidemiology studies have utilized evidence-based pre-season screening measures, prospective injury surveillance, and biostatistical modelling to investigate potential risk factors for dance-related injury across multiple years. Post-injury there is currently no return-to-dance protocol to guide injury rehabilitation. A dance-specific jump test to detect lower-limb asymmetries and normative values for common pre-season screening assessments may prove useful for onsite clinicians who are responsible for dancer populations. Therefore, the aims of this doctoral research were to assess the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors for dance-related injury in pre-professional ballet dancers, to evaluate the test-retest reliability of a dance specific jump test using wearable technology, and to establish normative values for common pre-season screening assessments. In Chapter three, it was found that injury prevalence, injury rate, severity, and location remain consistent across five years of training, further justifying the growing body of research that demonstrates pre-professional ballet dancers are at high risk for injury. In an examination of potential risk factors in Chapter four, a significant association between lumbopelvic control and dynamic balance, when adjusted for psychological coping skills and years of previous dance training, with side-to-side differences was found. In Chapter five, findings demonstrated that using accelerometers during a dance-specific jump test did not produce reliable measures of lower limb landing asymmetries. However, test-retest reliability was demonstrated for performance measures (i.e., flight time and jump height). This means that inertial measurement units placed on the lower limb could be used to quantify jump loads and measure jump height performance during injury rehabilitation. Finally, in chapter six, normative values and percentiles were determined for ankle and hip range of motion, lumbopelvic control, and dynamic balance for healthy, adolescent ballet dancers training at the pre-professional level. In conclusion, the use of a comprehensive injury surveillance program across multiple years has established consistent risks and a risk profile for dance-related injury in pre-professional dancers. Baseline and normative values of jump performance and common pre-season screenings may be a more appropriate reference for injury than lower-limb asymmetry metrics.
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    Prevalence of adolescent physical activity-related injuries in sports, leisure time, and school: the National Physical Activity Behaviour Study for children and Adolescents
    (2018-02-15) Räisänen, Anu M; Kokko, Sami; Pasanen, Kati; Leppänen, Mari; Rimpelä, Arja; Villberg, Jari; Parkkari, Jari
    Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of adolescent physical activity-related injuries in sports club activities, leisure time physical activity and school-based physical activity. The secondary aim was to investigate the differences in the prevalence of physical activity -related injuries between years 2014 and 2016. In addition, we set out to study the associations between age, sex and the frequency of physical activity and injury prevalence. Methods This cross-sectional study is based on the National Physical Activity Behaviour Study for Children and Adolescents (LIITU in Finnish) conducted in years 2014 and 2016. The subjects completed an online questionnaire in the classroom during school hours. A total of 8406 subjects participated in the current study. Out of these, 49% were boys and 51% were girls. The proportions of 11-, 13-, and 15-year-olds were 35%, 34% and 31%, respectively. Results In the combined data for 2014 and 2016, injury prevalence was higher in sports club activities (46%, 95% CI 44.8–47.8) than in leisure time PA (30%, 95% CI, 28.5–30.5) or school-based PA (18%, 95% CI, 17.4–19.1). In leisure time PA, the injury prevalence was higher than in school-based PA. In all the three settings, injury prevalence was higher in 2016 than in 2014. Frequency of PA was associated with a higher risk for PA-related injuries in sports clubs and leisure time. Conclusions With half of the subjects reporting at least one PA-related injury during the past year, results indicate that adolescent PA-related injuries are a large-scale problem. There is a worrisome rise in injury prevalence in recent years. From a public health standpoint, there is an urgent need to invest in injury prevention to reverse this trend.
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    Setting the Standard: Injury, Concussion, and Performance in Youth Volleyball
    (2022-05) Vaandering, Mackenzie; Schneider, Kathryn; Emery, Carolyn; Hagel, Brent; Pasanen, Kati
    This thesis contains three projects focused on Canadian youth community volleyball. The first project is a prospective cohort study evaluating injury epidemiology during the 2018 Canadian Youth National Volleyball Tournament. It was found that rates of injury in U14 were higher than U18, with high rates of injury in tournament play. The second project evaluated the test-retest reliability of a series of volleyball performance measures (i.e., modified agility t-test, modified pro agility, spike approach jump height, serve velocity, attack velocity and the Y-balance test). Most measures, excluding serve and attack velocity, were found to be reliable. The third project is a cross-sectional study describing performance scores on these measures. Males were faster on both agility tests, jumped higher, and achieved faster serve velocities than females. In the future, the addition of performance metrics may be beneficial to assess skill development and performance changes with injury prevention programs.
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    Shoulder and Upper Extremity Injuries in Canadian Youth Ice Hockey: Investigating Injury Rates, Types, Severity, Mechanisms, and Risk Factors
    (2022-07-14) Gibson, Eric Sanjay Dookeran; Pasanen, Kati; Emery, Carolyn; Black, Amanda; Lebrun, Constance; West, Stephen
    Chapter 1: The first project is a systematic review that sought to explore the epidemiology of shoulder-related injury in youth sports. This study examined shoulder injury rates (IR), mechanisms, risk factors, and prevention strategies that have been studied. It was found that sport-related shoulder injuries are prevalent among youth athletes (accounting for a median of 10.9% of all injuries, n=41 studies). Injury risk factors identified included modifiable factors such as strength, range-of-motion, and training load imbalances. The most common injury mechanism was direct shoulder area contact with another person or an object in the playing environment. Considering the limitations identified by this review, it is clear that a paucity of research exists with respect to the study of shoulder-related injury prevention. Limitations of this systematic review were the heterogeneity of injury surveillance methods and definitions used, as well as the low quality of the included studies. Chapter 2: The second project is a secondary analysis of data collected in the Safe2Play longitudinal cohort study. This study sought to describe shoulder-related injury rates, types, severity, and mechanisms in youth female and male ice hockey players. An exploratory objective of this study was to identify risk factors for shoulder-related injury (including body checking policy, injury history, player size, level of play, sex, and playing position). This study found that shoulder injury has a high injury rate in youth ice hockey. Most shoulder injuries resulted in more than one week of time-loss from sport. Risk factors for shoulder injury included participation in a body-checking league, previous history of any injury in the previous 12 months, and the non-goalie playing position. Limitations of this study were related to the low number of practice-related shoulder injuries, as well as infrequent injuries to female participants – meaning that risk factor analysis was only feasible for game-related injuries among males.
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    The Epidemiology of Youth Sport-Related Shoulder Injuries: A Systematic Review
    (2022-08-23) Gibson, Eric S.; Cairo, Alexis; Räisänen, Anu M.; Kuntze, Colleen; Emery, Carolyn A.; Pasanen, Kati
    Background. Youth around the globe place their shoulders at risk for injury when participating in sports. Shoulder injuries may vary in severity, produce the potential for time-loss from sport, and result in functional disability. We sought to explore sport-related shoulder injuries in youth by identifying injury rates, risk factors, injury mechanisms, and injury prevention strategies. Methods. All relevant full-text articles were identified by searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Sport Discus, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Registry. No date restrictions were used. All full-text studies reporting original research describing sport-related shoulder injury among female and/or male youth from 5 to 18 years old were included. Results. Of 3,889 studies screened, 97 described shoulder injury in youth sports. Shoulder injuries were identified in 24 unique sports. The median seasonal prevalence of shoulder injury was 10.9% (range 1.2–28.2%). The most common injury mechanisms identified were contacted with another player, contact with the playing environment, and falling to the ground. Risk factors for shoulder injury identified were side-to-side strength imbalances, weak external rotator muscles, and scapular dyskinesia. One study evaluated a successful training strategy to prevent shoulder injuries, but two other interventions demonstrated no effect. Conclusions. Sport-related shoulder injuries are prevalent among youth athletes. Injury risk factors identified included modifiable intrinsic factors such as strength, range of motion, and training load. The most common injury mechanism was direct contact with either another person or an object in the playing environment. Innovative shoulder-specific strategies are needed to reduce shoulder injuries in this population. Trial Registration: PROSPERO ID: CRD42020189142.
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    The Influence of Lateral Wedged Insoles on the Performance of Basketball-Specific Movements
    (2023-09-21) Crawford, Reyna Cyan; Stefanyshyn, Darren; Edwards, William Brent; Ferber, Reed; Pasanen, Kati; Jordan, Matthew
    Basketball is a dynamic sport known for its fast-paced and multidirectional nature. The implementation of banking mechanisms has demonstrated performance enhancements and the potential to mitigate ankle and knee injury risks during non-linear movements. However, existing banking mechanisms used in a sport setting are often impractical for basketball. Lateral wedged insoles may be a promising alternative to address this challenge. The aims of this study were to assess the influence of lateral wedged insoles on the performance of basketball-specific movements and to observe any changes at the ankle or knee related to injury risk. Twenty-four collegiate basketball players (twelve females and twelve males) performed a shuffle, forward cutting, backward cutting, and sprinting drills, both with and without a 5° lateral wedged insole in their footwear. Performance times, subjective assessments, medial-lateral sway of the centre of mass, ground reaction forces (GRFs), as well as angles and moments of the left ankle and knee were compared using two tailed paired t-tests. Across all movements, completion time, ankle inversion angles, and knee frontal plane kinetics and kinematics remained unchanged. In the shuffle drill, the lateral wedge condition led to increased ankle plantarflexion moments, higher medial and vertical GRFs, and improved GRF vector alignment, resulting in reduced stance time. An increase in the average ankle eversion moment was observed, with no change in the peak value. While minor kinetic changes were observed in the forward and backward cutting drills with the lateral wedge condition, stance time remained unchanged. The lateral wedged insole had no impact on medial-lateral sway of the centre of mass, or the sagittal plane kinematics and kinetics during the sprint, suggesting that 5° lateral wedged insoles do not influence the performance of linear movements. In subjective assessments, participants expressed greater confidence in non- linear movements and improved stability with the lateral wedge condition, however, they rated the comfort of this condition significantly lower. The results indicate that lateral wedged insoles may induce modifications that could potentially enhance performance without changing the risk of ankle or knee joint injuries during lateral movements.
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    The reality of NMT warm-up programs: Does research translate into real-world implementation?
    (2023-06-14) Lutz, Destiny; Emery, Carolyn; Schneider, Kathryn; Pasanen, Kati; Owoeye, Oluwatoyosi; Bizzini, Mario
    This MSc thesis includes two manuscript-style chapters focused on the best practices for the dissemination and implementation (D&I) of neuromuscular training (NMT) warm-ups programs in youth team sport and video analysis of warm-up procedures in Calgary youth soccer. The systematic review examined the current practices for the D&I of NMT warm-up programs in youth (19 years old) team sport. Key results from this systematic review indicate there are few high-level studies evaluating D&I strategies for NMT warm-up program delivery. Limited studies utilize D&I behaviour change frameworks/models. Coach workshops with supplementary resources are the primary strategy and facilitator for implementation success. The second study takes a deeper dive into implementation, looking at real-world usage of NMT warm-up programs in a local context using video analysis. This study investigated U13-U17 male and female elite and non-elite Calgary youth soccer warm-ups for both practices and games during the outdoor 2022 season. Findings of this study determined limited mean time spent in overall warm-ups (322.4 seconds/session; 95% CI: 250.3, 394.5) and minimal time spent in NMT components (202.2 seconds/session; 95% CI: 150.3, 254.2) across all teams. Significant increase in mean time spent in aerobic was found for male elite teams for practice warm-ups in the beginning of the season (timepoint 1) compared to mid-season (timepoint 2, p = 0.005; timepoint 3, p < 0.001; and timepoint 4, p < 0.001). No other changes were found from the remaining groups, regardless of session type. When evaluating differences in overall warm-ups and time spent in NMT components, male elite teams spent more mean time in aerobic than female elite teams in practice warm-ups (-335.8 seconds, 95% CI: -413.8, -257.8); no differences were seen in games. No significant differences were found between male and female non-elite teams for either session type. Despite recommendations, the status of warm-up program implementation in youth team sport globally, and youth soccer setting locally, do not reflect research suggestions for achieving health-related benefits. Overall, these studies highlight the need for more pragmatic efforts to promote successful, long-term uptake of NMT warm-up programs, suggesting further incorporation of critical NMT components into routines.
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    Turf Talk: Injury Rates, Mechanisms, and Prevention in Adolescent Field Hockey
    (2024-07-03) Madrid, Alana; Emery, Carolyn; West, Stephen; Pasanen, Kati; Verhagen, Evert; Delahunt, Eamonn
    This MSc thesis contains three projects focused on Canadian adolescent field hockey players. Project A: Game Video Analysis Objective: To describe physical contact (PC) incidence rates (IR), PC types, PC intensity, and suspected injury (SI) IRs in female adolescent high school (HS) and club field hockey (FH). Methods: Video analysis of HS and club FH games. Results: The PC IRs for HS were similar to club (IRR=1.16; 95% CI:0.90-1.48). HS had a 3.1-fold higher SI IR than club (IRR=3.10, 95% CI:1.41-6.76). The leading SI mechanism was ball-to-player contact (HS 71.43%; club 61.54%) and most frequent SI location was the lower extremity (HS 37.74%; club 53.85%). Project B: Injury Epidemiology Objective: To describe IRs, types, locations, severity, and mechanisms and explore associations between potential risk factors and IRs in HS and female and male club FH. Methods: Prospective injury surveillance. Results: Overall injury IRs (/1000 player-hours) were 6.28 injuries (95% CI: 4.38-9.05) in female HS, 2.93 injuries (95% CI: 1.50-5.71) in female club, and 15.00 (95% CI: 7.15-31.46) in male club. The most common injury location and type was the lower extremity (58.54%) and contusions (41.46%). There was a significant association between sex, weight, height, BMI, and injury in exploratory univariable risk factor analyses. Project C: Pilot Neuromuscular Training Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, adherence, and pilot efficacy of a coach-delivered NMT warm-up program in female and male club FH. Methods: NMT coach workshop delivery and prospective injury surveillance. Results: Warm-up adherence was 66.67% in the female team and 44.44% in the male team. There was no significant difference in IRs (IRR=0.60, 95% CI: 0.13-2.91) between control teams and NMT intervention teams. Conclusion: These projects increase knowledge regarding the injury profile of Canadian adolescent FH players and may help inform future injury prevention strategies. Keywords: Field hockey, adolescent, video analysis, injury, neuromuscular training, injury prevention
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    Wearable technology approach to determining exercise fidelity in athletes during a neuromuscular training warm-up program
    (2019-09) Chin, Mathieu; Pasanen, Kati; Emery, Carolyn A.; Benson, Lauren C.
    Introduction: Basketball is one of the most popular sports in North America, but there is a high incidence of lower extremity injuries among youth basketball players. Participation in neuromuscular training (NMT) warm-up programs can reduce injury risk by 29% with lower injury rates reported for teams with high adherence to the NMT program. The use of wearable technology will allow us to more easily and efficiently quantify the movements of athletes during these warm-up programs to potential determine the effects of exercise fidelity. Thus, this study looks to quantify the movements of youth basketball players in an NMT warm-up program. Methods 27 male and female basketball players (ages 14-18) completed the NMT warm-up exercises prior to a practice. A Shimmer3 inertial measurement unit (Shimmer3 GSR+®, Shimmer Inc., Dublin, IE) was worn on the lower back, with concurrent video recording. Results Analysis of the “Side Plank” showed an 8.01% difference between Side 1 (88.15%) and Side 2 (96.16%) of Player 1, whereas Player 2 had a 32.42% difference between Side 1 (86.43%) and Side 2 (54.01%). The “One Legged Jump Over the Line” showed that Player 1 had a 17.12m/s2 difference between the forward and backward accelerations of Leg 1, with the difference being 0.80m/s2 in Leg 2. Player 2 had a difference of 0.08m/s2 and 2.62m/s2 for legs 1 and 2, respectively. Conclusions Preliminary results indicated that the acceleration of the Shimmer3 devices are sensitive enough to differentiate movements amongst players when performing exercises in the NMT warm-up program. Side-to-side differences were apparent amongst athletes during the “Side Plank” and the “Single Leg Jump Over the Line” exercise. Further analysis is currently in progress for other exercises in the warm-up program, as well as video analysis of the same sessions to determine exercise fidelity and its effects on injury prevention.