Effects of the performance level and the FIFA "11" injury prevention program on the injury rate in Italian male amateur soccer players.

AIM: Soccer is characterized by high injury rates that necessitate interventions for its reduction. The "11" is a multi-modal preventive program that was developed to reduce injury rate. However, outcomes on the effectiveness of the program are not unambiguous and data for the largest group at risk (i.e., male adult amateur players) are missing. The study aims to assess the injury rate in male adult amateur soccer players of different levels and to evaluate the effectiveness of the prevention program the "11". METHODS: Three amateur soccer teams participated in the study during the first round of a competition season. Two teams played at a regional level (6th Italian league) and one team at a provincial level (7th Italian league). The regional league is of a higher skill level compared to the provincial league. Duration and frequency of training and match sessions and the occurrence of time-loss injuries were recorded. One team of the 6th league performed an injury prevention program. RESULTS: The total injury rate for the intervention and the control team in the 6th league was 3.3 (CI 0.7-5.9) and 4.3 (CI 1.3-7.3) injuries/1000 h, respectively (P=0.841). The 6th league control team tended to have a lesser injury rate compared to the 7th league team (P=0.081). The relative risk was 2 fold higher in the 7th compared to the 6th league team (P=0.0285 one tailed). CONCLUSION: Present results show that injury rate in amateur soccer depended rather on the skill level than the prevention program. In this study the prevention program the "11" was not shown to be highly effective in soccer player of intermediate level (i.e., 6th Italian league).

[Determination of the heart minute volume by impedance cardiography: a way to prophylaxis of premature birth? (author's transl)]. / Bestimmung des Herzminutenvolumens durch Impedanzkardiographie: Ein Weg zur Prophylaxe der Frühgeburtlichkeit?

30 gravid women between the ages of 18 and 38 years who had gone into premature labour of unknown etiology were examined with respect to cardiac output and various other cardiovascular parameters in the standing, supine and left lateral positions. Measurements were carried out using an impedance-cardiography. A group of 30 women of similar age and duration of pregnancy but not in premature labour was also tested as controls. In the standing position, the test group showed a cardiac output which was 15% less than that of the controls. Statistically this was highly significant (p less than 0.005). No difference was found in the supine and left lateral positions. These results are in agreement with the literature, but with the method used in this study, an invasive, or X-Ray procedure is avoided. The physiology of the cardiovascular system in pregnancy and the means by which premature labour may be prevented, are discussed.