Dr. Bennett and the staff at Bennett Orthopedics see soccer injuries on a regular basis. Soccer is an intense contact sport that commonly results in injury, which is why a group of researchers recently completed an investigation to determine the effects of exercise-based  injury prevention programs. After studying a number of controlled trials, the research team determined that players suffered from nearly 40 percent fewer injuries when they participated in exercise prevention practices. This information will prove very valuable to coaches and players as they seek to minimize musculoskeletal injuries on the field.

The Impact of Soccer Injuries

Though soccer provides a number of physical benefits, like improved cardiovascular health and reduced risk of hypertension, the sport also places players at risk of experiencing significant orthopedic injuries. In Europe alone, where soccer is known as football, nearly two million people are hospitalized each year due to soccer injuries. In response, FIFA has developed exercise prevention programs that incorporate strength, balance, and jumping/landing activities that can be used during practice and warmup to reduce the frequency of player injuries.

FIFA Prevention Programs

Over the years, two specific FIFA prevention programs have emerged. They are known as the FIFA 11 and the FIFA 11+. The FIFA 11 is the original intervention, and the FIFA 11+ is a revised version that includes similar exercises with additional dynamic movements and variations. Basic exercises included in FIFA 11 include two core stability movements, four balance movements, three plyometric exercises, and one strength exercise. The FIFA 11+, meanwhile, includes a total of 27 different exercises of varying levels to help players warm up and accommodate different skill levels.

The Best Injury Prevention Program

Based on this meta-analysis, the researchers concluded that the FIFA 11+ injury prevention program achieved widespread injury reduction among players of up to 39 percent. According to the study’s results, “The FIFA 11+ prevention programme reduces the top four most prevalent football injuries: hamstring, hip/groin, knee and ankle injury by 60 percent, 41 percent, 48 percent, and 32 percent, respectively.” Those are dramatic results that all athletes can enjoy!

For sports injuries that occur despite the best prevention efforts, Dr. Bennett at Bennett Orthopedics and Sportsmedicine serves the Sarasota, Florida area to resolve musculoskeletal injuries like arthritis, tennis elbow, ligament tears, and many others with cutting edge treatment methods including PRP and stem cell therapy. Call (941) 953-5509 to make your appointment now, enjoy freedom from pain, and get back in the game!