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Integrated injury prevention program improves balance and vertical jump height in children
Lindsay J DiStefano1, Darin A Padua, J Troy Blackburn
1Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA. Lindsay.distefano@uconn.edu
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
|January 15, 2010
Summary
A traditional injury prevention program improved balance and jump height in young athletes, contrary to expectations. A pediatric-specific program showed no significant benefits, highlighting the importance of training specificity for this age group.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Pediatric Exercise Science
- Injury Prevention
Background:
- Implementing injury prevention programs for athletes under 12 may reduce injury rates.
- Limited knowledge exists on whether young athletes benefit from traditional programs or require age-specific interventions for balance and performance.
- Understanding optimal program design for youth athletes is crucial for effective injury reduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of a pediatric-specific injury prevention program versus a traditional program on balance and performance in youth athletes.
- To evaluate if a specialized pediatric program or a traditional program is more effective in improving measures in young athletes.
- To assess changes in balance and performance after a 9-week intervention period in a youth soccer population.
Main Methods:
- A cluster-randomized controlled trial involving 65 youth soccer athletes (age 10 ± 1 years).
- Teams were randomized into three groups: pediatric injury prevention program, traditional injury prevention program, or a control group.
- Balance (time-to-stabilization) and performance (vertical jump height and power) were measured pre- and post-intervention.
Main Results:
- The traditional injury prevention program significantly improved anterior-posterior time-to-stabilization compared to the control group.
- Vertical jump height increased significantly in the traditional program group relative to the control group.
- No significant improvements in balance or performance measures were observed in the pediatric program group compared to the control group.
Conclusions:
- Youth athletes can enhance balance ability and vertical jump height through participation in an injury prevention program.
- The traditional program demonstrated effectiveness, while the pediatric-specific program did not yield significant improvements in this cohort.
- Training specificity is a critical factor to consider when designing injury prevention programs for young athletes.