The effects of "Prevent Injury and Enhance Performance Program" in a female soccer team.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes of muscle strength in lower limbs and knee valgus alignment using the Prevent Injury and Enhance Performance Program (PEP program) to prevent ACL injuries in female soccer players during an entire season. METHODS: A longitudinal and prospective study was done in twenty female soccer players at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, from a senior team. During 24 weeks the training program was applied three times a week as a part of the team workouts. Video analysis of dynamic knee valgus alignment and maximal strength of quadriceps, hamstrings and gastrocnemius were evaluated pre and post-training. RESULTS: Quadriceps and hamstring strength increased on the right pelvic limb (P<0.001). In addition the quadriceps/hamstrings ratio decreased from 3.38 to 2.3 in the right side, and from 1.99 to 1.09 in the left side. The mechanics of jump improved in 20% of the female soccer players. Muscle strength in quadriceps and hamstrings increased in right pelvic limb (P<0.001), and the quadriceps/hamstrings ratio decreased from 3.38 to 2.3 in right side and from 1.99 to 1.09 in left side. Although injuries did not decrease during this period no ACL injury was registered. CONCLUSIONS: Until now there are no reports about muscle strength and jump technique assessment with the application of the PEP program. The neuromuscular training and muscle balance are important to prevent ACL injuries. We advise that this program is integrated to women's soccer training.

Zapateado technique as an injury risk in Mexican folkloric and Spanish dance: an analysis of execution, ground reaction force, and muscle strength.

Zapateado is a repetitive percussive footwork in dance. This percussive movement, and the differences in technique, may be risk factors for injury. A survey on zapateado dance students found a rate of 1.5 injuries/1,000 exposures. Knee injuries are more frequent than in Spanish dancers than folkloric dancers. The aim of this research was to study the relationship between technique and ground reaction force between zapateado on Spanish and Mexican folkloric dancers. Ten female dance students (age 22.4 ± 4 yrs), six Spanish dancers and four Mexican folkloric dancers, were considered. Each student performed zapateado with a flat foot, wearing high-heeled shoes during 5 seconds on a force platform. Videotapes were taken on a lateral plane, and knee and hip angles in each movement phase were measured with Dartfish software. Additionally, knee and ankle flexor and extensor strength was measured with a dynamometer. Ground reaction forces were lower for Spanish dancers than Mexican folkloric dancers. Spanish dancers had less knee flexion when the foot contacted to the ground than did Mexican folkloric dancers. On Spanish dancers, the working leg had more motion in relation to hip and knee angles than was seen in folkloric dancers. The ankle extensors were stronger on folkloric dancers, and there were no differences for the other muscle groups. Knee flexion at foot contact and muscle strength imbalance could be risk factors for injuries. It is suggested that the technique in Spanish dance in Mexico be reviewed, although more studies are required to define more risk factors.

Injuries in students of three different dance techniques.

As with any athlete, the dancer has a high risk for injury. Most studies carried out relate to classical and modern dance; however, there is a lack of reports on injuries involving other dance techniques. This study is an attempt to determine the differences in the incidence, the exposure-related rates, and the kind of injuries in three different dance techniques. A prospective study about dance injuries was carried out between 2004 and 2007 on students of modern, Mexican folkloric, and Spanish dance at the Escuela Nacional de Danza. A total of 1,168 injuries were registered in 444 students; the injury rate was 4 injuries/student for modern dance and 2 injuries/student for Mexican folkloric and Spanish dance. The rate per training hours was 4 for modern, 1.8 for Mexican folkloric, and 1.5 injuries/1,000 hr of training for Spanish dance. The lower extremity is the most frequent structure injured (70.47%), and overuse injuries comprised 29% of the total. The most frequent injuries were strain, sprain, back pain, and patellofemoral pain. This study has a consistent medical diagnosis of the injuries and is the first attempt in Mexico to compare the incidence of injuries in different dance techniques. To decrease the frequency of student injury, it is important to incorporate prevention programs into dance program curricula. More studies are necessary to define causes and mechanisms of injury, as well as an analysis of training methodology, to decrease the incidence of the muscle imbalances resulting in injury.

Fracturas por avulsión de la pelvis en un equipo de fúltbol mexicano. Reporte de casos de fracturas por avulsión de la espina iliaca anterior superior o inferior / Avulsion fractures of the pelvis in a Mexican soccer team. A report of fractures of anterior iliac spines, superior or inferior

Las fracturas por avulsión de las espinas ilíacas anterior e inferior son lesiones poco frecuentes. Se presenta en adolescentes entre 13 y 15 años, que realizan deporte en forma organizada. Se reportan los cinco casos que se presentaron en el Club Universidad Nacional de 1993 a 1998, de fractura por avulsión de la espina ilíaca anterior superior o inferior. Fueron del sexo masculino con un promedio de 14.6 años de edad, presentando el mismo patrón en cuanto al mecanismo, edad, síntomas, hallazgos clínicos y radiográficos. La mayoría se fracturó al estar pateando con el lado dominante. Se trataron con reposo del deporte, fisioterapia, fortalecimiento y ejercicios de flexibilidad. El tiempo de recuperación en promedio fue de 54.6 días. Es importante realizar un diagnóstico oportuno, considerar reposo del deporte, fisioterapia y rehabilitación para el regreso al deporte.

Frecuencia de lesiones en jugadores de fútbol soccer del Club Universidad Nacional. Lesiones en los niveles: profesional y fuerzas básicas / Injury frequency in soccer players of the University of Mexic. comparative trial between categories: professional and basic forces

Se observó la incidencia y frecuencia de lesiones de 190 jugadores de fútbol soccer pertenecientes a los equipos profesionales y fuerzas básicas, durante dos temporadas 1991-1992 y 1992-1993. Se registraron un total de 402 lesiones. El 53.2 por ciento fueron leves, 29.9 por ciento moderadas y 16.9 por ciento severas. Las lesiones más frecuentes fueron: musculares 27.5 por ciento, los esguinces de tobillo 21.1 por ciento, las contusiones 19.7 por ciento y por sobreuso 19.7 por ciento. La única diferencia entre profesionales y fuerzas básicas fue que son más frecuentes las fracturas en los profesionales y el Osgood-Schlatter sólo se presentó en las fuerzas básicas, el resto de las lesiones se comportaron igual en ambos grupos. Tomando en cuenta la exposición no hubo diferencia significativa en los dos grupos. Los resultados en los estudios epidemiológicos han variado por la diferencia en la metodología de recolección, este estudio se realiza en equipos de fuerzas básicas como profesionales y el criterio médico de diagnóstico, tratamiento y criterio para regresar al deporte fue el mismo. Sabemos que falta todavía mucho para explicarnos las causas y mecanismos en las lesiones en el fútbol soccer