Warm-Ups and Coaches' Perceptions: Searching for Clues to Improve Injury Prevention in Youth Basketball.

Anu M Räisänen,Kati Pasanen,Carolyn A Emery,Carla Van Den Berg,Oluwatoyosi B A Owoeye,Kimberley Befus

doi:10.3389/fspor.2021.619291

Abstract

Introduction: Regular use of neuromuscular training (NMT) warm-up programs improves performance and prevents injuries. However, low level of adoption of these programs remains a problem. Understanding the current warm-ups in youth basketball and coaches' perceptions on injury prevention can guide the design of superior implementation strategies. This study describes warm-ups in youth basketball and coaches' injury prevention-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and information sources.Methods: Youth basketball coaches (n = 50) completed a preseason questionnaire. The questionnaire covered warm-up length, use of aerobic/agility/balance/strength/other exercises in the warm-up, injury-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and sources of information.Results: Typical warm-up duration was ≤ 10 min (48.0% of coaches, 95% CI: ±13.8%). All coaches included aerobic exercises in their warm-up. Agility, strength, and balance exercises were utilized by 80.0% (95% CI: ±11.7%), 70.7% (95% CI: ±13.6%), and 26.8% (95% CI: ±13.6%) of coaches, respectively. Most coaches agreed to some extent that basketball injuries are preventable (94%) and that participating in a NMT warm-up program would reduce player's risk of injury (92%). Other coaches were identified as the most common source of information on warm-ups and injury prevention.Discussion: Coaches use parts of effective NMT warm-up programs, but balance exercises are not well adopted. Considering the level of evidence supporting the importance of balance exercises in injury prevention, it is crucial to improve the implementation of NMT warm-up programs in youth basketball, for example, through educational courses. As fellow coaches were identified as the most important source of information, coaches' role in knowledge translation should be emphasized.

Highlights

Regular use of neuromuscular training (NMT) warm-up programs improves performance and prevents injuries
The findings indicate that youth basketball coaches commonly include aerobic and agility components in the warm-ups in basketball practices
An important reason for the lack of NMT warm-up program implementation among youth team sport coaches was their perception that they already have their athletes perform activities that are similar to those commonly included in NMT warm-up programs (Norcross et al, 2016)

Summary

Introduction

Regular use of neuromuscular training (NMT) warm-up programs improves performance and prevents injuries. This study describes warm-ups in youth basketball and coaches’ injury prevention-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and information sources. Previous studies have demonstrated that neuromuscular training (NMT) warm-up programs are effective in both improving performance (Faude et al, 2017; Hanlon et al, 2020) and reducing the risk of lower extremity injuries (Lauersen et al, 2014; Emery et al, 2015; Brunner et al, 2019). While stakeholders from the athlete to the national and international governing bodies need to be involved in injury prevention (Emery et al, 2006), coaches play a key role in the adoption of NMT warm-up programs (White et al, 2014). Individual coach’s knowledge, perceptions, and practices influence whether or not they adopt an NMT warm-up program (Norcross et al, 2016; Lindblom et al, 2018)

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