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

Classification of Injury (1) Non contact incorporated the following mechanisms: Sprinting Turning Landing Kicking

Distribution of injury 72 % of all injuries occur to the lower limb

Type of tissue + time lost 19.7 Muscle injury 25.3 Ligament Injury 32.4 Tendon Injury

The bigger picture Well being Player Flexibility Conditioning Strength Players “At Risk” Mental Health Training load Hydration Nutrition

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 Murphy J, O’Malley E, Gissane C, Blake C (2012) American Journal of Sports Medicine , vol. 40, No.9 Silvers H, Mandelbaum B (2011) SportOrtho Trauma 27, 18-26 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 Griffin E, Letha Y (2003) Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research vol. 409; 53-60 www.learning.gaa.ie/node/268653 http://thescore.thejournal.ie/colm-oneill-cruciate-injury-2014-1215104-Dec2013/