Prevention, rehabilitation and re-injury-prophylaxis of knee and ankle injuries In young elite soccer players

OBJECTIVE Epidemioiogical studies show an increased number and impact of serious knee and ankle injuries that occur not only in the field of high level senior soccer but also with dramatically rising figures in youth soccer. There-fore, the German Federal Institute of Sport Science (BISp) promotes a several years lasting interdisciplinary project in close cooperation with the German Soccer Federation (DFB). Injuries of the lower extremities or the proneness to cer-tain knee and/or ankle injuries are thought to be caused by many factors. Therefore the aim of this study was to optimize prevention, rehabilitation and reinjury-prophylaxis of knee and ankle injuries in soccer and get information about the coherences of physical, psychological and biomechanical data concerning injury frequency. METHODS Diagnosis variables include the individual knee and ankle stability, coordinative and psychological abili-ties. Thus, a manifold of research disciplines (biomechanics, training science, psychology, medicine) worked together. Five elite male youth soccer teams (U 17, U 19) of five 1st division clubs (n=157 players) participated at eight diagno-sis sessions throughout two seasons. RESULTS Data of the coordinative abilities showed gradual increase during the observed period as well as increased values of knee stability, whereas maximum isometric strength did not improve. Psychological data suggested that the measured mood status correlated with training intensity and injury in single cases. A multivariate analysis was con-ducted for all variables and for all measurements is in progress. CONCLUSION First results indicated a positive influence of the proprioceptive training concerning knee stability and coordinative ability, even though there seemed to be no structural changes. Psychological data would be very useful for coaches to modify the training process, as well as provide increased awareness of the body perceptions of the soccer players.