Preventing Knee Injuries in Adolescent Female Football Players

Preventing Knee Injuries in Adolescent Female Football Players - Protocol of a Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial

Football-related knee injuries are common and especially the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury constitute a serious problem in football regardless of the playing level. The purpose of this study is to conduct a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of a training program designed to prevent acute knee injury in female adolescent football players.

The investigators' hypotheses are:

1. a preventive training program reduces the incidence of ACL injury, and
2. a high match frequency and match play at senior level increase the risk of ACL injury.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Teams with female football players aged 13-17 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Teams that did not reply to the invitation or declined participation
• Teams having less than two scheduled training sessions per week
• Teams already using the preventive program