Torbjørn Soligard, Grethe Myklebust, Kathrin Steffen, Ingar Holme, Holly Silvers, Mario Bizzini, Astrid Junge, Jiri Dvorak, Roald Bahr, Thor Einar Andersen. 

The aim of the study was to examine the effect of a comprehensive warm-up programme designed to reduce the risk of injuries in female youth football.

125 football clubs from Norway (65 clusters in the intervention group; 60 in the control group) were followed for one league season. This totalled 1892 female players aged 13-17 (1055 players in the intervention group; 837 players in the control group).

The intervention group were given a comprehensive warm-up programme to improve strength, awareness, and neuromuscular control during static and dynamic movements. Results were measured by injuries to the lower extremity (foot, ankle, lower leg, knee, thigh, groin, and hip).

The results demonstrated that 264 players had relevant injuries: 121 players in the intervention group and 143 in the control group. In the intervention group there was a significantly lower risk of injuries overall, overuse injuries, and severe injuries.

The authors concluded that although reduction in lower extremity injuries did not reach significance, the risk of severe injuries, overuse injuries, and injuries overall was reduced. This indicates that a structured warm-up programme can prevent injuries in young female football players.

BMJ 2008;337:a2469

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