Injury Prevention in the GAA

Dr Clare Lodge MISCP, DPT

The Cost of Injury Psychological – Self /

Family/ Team

Financial – personally/ club/ county board

Health – long term

“Ouch!” – 13 of the worst injuries suffered by GAA players in 2013

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/colm-oneill-cruciate-injury-2014-1215104-Dec2013/

Incidence of Injury

•Over the 4 seasons estimated that there will be 1.19 injuries per player. (1)•Injuries 15 x more common during matches than training

69%

29%

InjuredInjury free

Classification of Injury (1)

32%

50%

17%

Type of Injury

ContactNoncontactunspecified

Non contact incorporated the following mechanisms:

Sprinting Turning Landing Kicking

Distribution of injury

72 % of all injuries occur to the lower limb gr

oin

Thigh

kn

eeAn

kle calf

Foot+

toes

Upper/

other

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

35.00%

9.40%

33.30%

11.30%10.00%5.20%

2.80%

28.20%

Type of tissue + time lost

M/s tendon52.80%

ligament

Bone 19.7 •Muscle injury

25.3 •Ligament Injury

32.4 •Tendon Injury

The bigger picture

Player Well being

Flexibility

StrengthConditioning

“At Risk”PlayersMental Health

Training loadNutritionHydration

Action – PEP Program (2)

Prevent Injury Enhance Performance

PEP Goals

Avoid vulnerable positions

Increase flexibility

Increase Strength

Include Plyometrics

Include Proprioception

+Agilities

Incorporate PEP program into training

www.learning.gaa.ie/node/268653

~You may need to work on specific areas of the Program

www.learning.gaa.ie/node/268683

Does it Work ? Other studies (3),(4) implemented various programmes incorporating a

combination of the PEP program concepts and results are promising.

74%- 89% decrease in lower limb injury incidence Noncontact injuries decreased by 1/3. Re-occurence of lower limb injury was 5x more likely in the control

groups. 6-8 weeks required for the Program to have neuromuscular effect Emphasis on technique:

- landing softly on the forefoot engaging hip and knee flexion + avoid knee collapsing inward - Deceleration techniques

Key Points Consider + incorporate PEP components

into training Avoid poor techniques + vulnerable positions Increase Flexibility Increase Strength Include Plyometrics Include Agilities and Proprioception Identify “at risk” players - Previous

Incidence of Injury is the best predictor of reinjury!

• Educate

• Increase awareness

• Demonstrate and reassess

• Individualise when necessary

• Modify for age

Thankyou

References (1) Murphy J, O’Malley E, Gissane C, Blake C (2012)

American Journal of Sports Medicine , vol. 40, No.9(2) Silvers H, Mandelbaum B (2011)

SportOrtho Trauma 27, 18-26(3) Alentorn-Geli E,  Myer G, Silvers H, Samitier G (2009)

Prevention of non contact ACL injuries in Athletes : A review of prevention programs aimed at modifying risk factors and reducing injury rates.Knee surgery and sports traumatology 17:859-879

(4) Griffin E, Letha Y (2003)Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research vol. 409; 53-60

www.learning.gaa.ie/node/268653http://thescore.thejournal.ie/colm-oneill-cruciate-injury-2014-1215104-Dec2013/