Stretch & exercise education improves pain levels in under-resourced collegiate club lacrosse players

Club sports are competitive, intercollegiate athletics that are not affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Club athletes may be at increased risk of injury compared to their NCAA counterparts due to limited resources, such as reduced access to strength and conditioning coaches and athletic trainers. Research has shown that injury-prevention education, as typically provided by coaches and trainers, can reduce injury rates and promote athlete compliance with safety practices.

This prospective cohort study investigates the impact of educational interventions on pain levels and injury rates in club collegiate men's lacrosse athletes.

Investigators conducted an educational session on injury prevention, which included instruction on stretches and exercises. The treatment group included 66 athletes, while 46 athletes served as the control group.

Pain levels significantly decreased by 1.549 (out of a self-reported scale of 10) (35.11%) (p = 0.0001). Although the average number of practices and games missed due to injury decreased by 0.579 in the treatment group compared to the control, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.5970).

Educational interventions focused on injury-prevention stretches and exercises appear to be effective in reducing pain among club athletes. While the reduction in missed practices and games was not statistically significant, these findings suggest that such educational programs may help mitigate injuries in under-resourced athletes. Further exploration of strategies to enhance these interventions and decrease injuries among club athletes is warranted.