1. Injury Prevention in the GAA
Dr Clare Lodge
MISCP, DPT

2. 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

3. 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

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

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

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

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

8. Action – PEP Program (2)
Prevent Injury
Enhance
Performance

9. PEP Goals Avoid vulnerable positions Increase flexibility
Increase Strength
Include Plyometrics
Include Proprioception +Agilities

10. Incorporate PEP program into training
~You may need to work on specific areas of the Program

11. 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

12. 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!

13. Educate
Increase awareness
Demonstrate and reassess
Individualise when necessary
Modify for age

14. Thankyou

15. 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:
Griffin E, Letha Y (2003)
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research vol. 409; 53-60