ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Ultimate Frisbee is a rapidly growing sport played in all levels of competition in men's, women's, and coed divisions. Despite widespread popularity, there remains a lack of research on injury risk and prevalence during a season. PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of injuries among elite club-level men and women Ultimate Frisbee players and to identify elements associated with injury during a single season. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiological study. METHODS: Voluntary preseason and postseason online surveys were distributed to local elite club-level Ultimate teams in 2019. Surveys assessed players' lifetime Ultimate-associated injury history, injury status, training regimen, and other related elements. RESULTS: Fifty-seven and 84 players were eligible to complete the preseason and postseason surveys, respectively. Prior to the 2019 season, 97% of female respondents and 100% of male respondents reported a previous Ultimate-related injury in their career, with all reporting a prior lower extremity injury. During the 2019 season, 56% of respondents reported being injured, and 12% missed one month or more of the season, with 88% of injured players reporting a lower extremity injury. Men reported more ankle and calf injuries than women, and there was a strong negative correlation between time missed due to injury during the 2018 season and the number of days per week spent weight-training and accumulated training. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of lower extremity injury among elite club-level Ultimate players during a single season and pervasive lower extremity injury history may contribute to high injury prevalence. Observed injury patterns suggest targeted interventions including Nordic Hamstring Exercises and balance and proprioceptive training may decrease injury risk. Further research into this topic is needed to help reduce injury in these athletes. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level 3.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: After anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery, returning the knee to previous levels of strength and function is challenging, with the failure to do so associated with an increased risk of reinjury and long-term degenerative problems. Blood flow restriction (BFR) is gaining popularity as a rehabilitation technique; however, its effects on the mechanics of these exercises have not been fully explored. In this study, we aimed to determine the acute effects of BFR on the performance of a step-up exercise protocol and to assess the acceptability of the technique. METHODS: Twenty individuals (12 female/8 male; mean age, 30.6 yr) who had recently undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and 20 controls (11 female/9 male, mean age 28.0 yr) performed a step-up exercise protocol with and without BFR. Lower limb kinematics and kinetics were measured and compared between groups and conditions. Testing was completed in June 2019. RESULTS: Participants in both groups had increased external rotation of the tibia of 2° (P < 0.001) and reductions in knee flexion and rotation torques around the joint of around 50% (P < 0.001) when using BFR compared with nonrestricted step-up exercise. The intervention was found to increase the difficulty of the exercise and induce moderate levels of discomfort (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The present study provides cautious support for the use of BFR, showing that there are minimal changes in knee joint mechanics when performing the same exercise without BFR, and that the changes do not increase joint torques at the knee. From an acute biomechanical perspective, the intervention appears safe to use under qualified supervision; however, effects of repetitive use and long-term outcomes should be monitored.