A pilot study for the prevention of lower limbs injuries in youth female basketball players

Introduction Female basketball players, compared to male athletes, are characterized by an increased risk of lower limbs injuries. For this reason, aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effects the Italian Basketball Injuries Prevention Program (IBIPP) especially designed for female athletes Methods Forty-five young, female, regional level basketball players (16±2 y-o; 52.9±11.4 kg; 160±1 cm; 20.1±3.1 kg/m2), were enrolled in a in a 16-wks protocol consisting of 3 session/week of 2 hours. All subjects were divided in two groups: 23 in the “IBIPP Group” and 22 in a “control” group. The IBIPP program consisted of 25 min active mobility, strength and agility exercises whereas the control group did the normal training routine. Subjects were tested at baseline (BL) and week 16 (W16) by Y excursion balance test, Counter Movement Jump (CMJ) and one legged CMJ (Optojump, Microgate, Bolzano, Italy). Adherence at the training program was registered and the estimation of injuries was calculated according to the study of Knowles et al., 2006. Differences over time were assessed with paired T-test and differences between groups with unpaired t-test. Results were expressed as mean ±SD. Significant differences were found p<0.05. Results All participants completed the 16-weeks program with a mean adherence of 90%. No significant differences were found at BL in the two groups. At W16, experimental group showed significant improvements in CMJ (ES 0.8) one-legged CMJ right leg (ES 0.8) CMJ left leg (ES 0.6) and. Y excursion balance test for right leg (ES 0.5) and for left leg (ES 0.5). Regarding the control group we didn’t find any significant differences at W16 compared to BL. There isn’t significant difference between groups with unpaired ttest in CMJ one-legged CMJ and Y excursion balance test. For the other parameters non-significant differences were detected. Significant reductions of injuries rate was detected only in the experimental group with 4 injuries on 890 games and 1781 hours of activity, with incidence rate of 2.3 per 1000 hours exposure (SE 0,0011) with a possibility of 0,05 to 4,45 on 1000 hours to incurring in a injury. On the other hand, the control group had 10 injuries on 1036 games and 2072 of activity with an incidence rate of 4,83 per 1000 hours exposure (SE 0,0015) with a possibility of 1,84 to 7,82 on 1000 hour to incurring in an injury. Discussion The IBIPP program, through a neuromuscular, resistance and mobility training, has shown to reduce the incidence of injuries in young female basketball players. References Knowles et al. Journal of Athletic Training 2006;41(2):207–215