Impact Of Fifa 11+ Program On Acl Injury Rates In Collegian Female Rugby Players

Abstract

This is a preliminary study on the impact of a FIFA 11+ training program for collegiate female rugby players at a local college. The FIFA 11+ was developed to prevent lower extremity injuries among soccer athletes. Retrospective analysis of injured Rugby athletes suggested the non-contact (NC) ACL injuries were similar to soccer related NC ACL injures. Given the success the FIFA 11+ program on injury reduction, it was suggested as an intervention. PURPOSE: The purpose is to investigate the effects of the FIFA 11+ program on reducing NC ACL injuries in collegiate female athletes. METHODS: Historical injury data was obtained. FIFA 11+ training program was implemented at the start of the season and continued as part of the pre-practice/game warm up. Injury data was logged throughout the rugby season of approximately 25 weeks between September and May. A comparison was made between 2016 season’s injuries to the 2017 and 2018 years. RESULTS: In the 2016 season prior to intervention, 9 athletes were injured/unable to participate because of rugby related musculoskeletal injuries with 3 NC ACL injuries. In the two seasons that the FIFA 11+ program was implemented, 2017 and 2018, NC ACL injuries were reduced to 0. In the 2017 season, 9 athletes were injured specifically, 3 concussions, 1 (Contact) ACL injury, and 5 other injuries. In 2018, ACL injuries were reduced to 0, while concussions (5) and fractures (3), and other injuries limited participation.Twice a week, 2-hour practice sessions and games were included to estimate a team NC ACL injury rate per activity hour ratio. In 2016 the ratio was 3/3000 hrs. There were no NC ACL injuries in both 2017 (0/3472 hrs) and 2018 (0/3900 hrs) together equal 0/7372 hrs. If the injury rate from 2016 were maintained, NC ACL injures would be predicted to be >7. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study suggests the FIFA 11+ may have broader application to other field sports and that specific training programs may reduce the incident of ACL injuries in Rugby athletes.