Secondary injury prevention reduces hamstring strain and time-loss groin injury burdens in male professional football

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a systems-based secondary injury prevention intervention aimed at early detection and management of hamstring strain injury (HSI) and time-loss groin injury in an Australian male professional football club. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Australian male professional football club. Participants: Data were collected from male professional football players (n = 73) from a single football club. Main outcome measures: Unilateral knee flexion and side-lying hip adduction maximum voluntary isometric contractions were monitored routinely in-season, two days post-match (>= 40 h [h]) during a three-season intervention period. Strength reductions greater than the tests' minimal detectable change percentage prompted intervention. HSI and time-loss groin injury burdens were calculated per 1000 player hours and compared with those from an immediately preceding two-season control period, to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. Results: Across the intervention period, there was a decrease in HSI (4.98 days absence/1000 h (19.8%) decrease) and time-loss groin injury burdens (0.57 days absence/1000 h (49.1%) decrease) when compared with the control period. Conclusions: A systems-based secondary injury prevention intervention shows preliminary positive findings in reducing HSI and time-loss groin injury burdens within a male professional football club, compared with usual care only.