Abstracts

a generalised classification of their presenting injury type or medical condition, and the body part injured. The injury surveillance data was
subsequently analysed to identify occasions of service by sport, the type of injury and the body part injured. A secondary analysis of the PPMG
data was conducted, comparing data collected using the same system at the 2007, 2009 and 2011 Australian University Games (AUG).
Results: Total medical encounters to Sports Trainers ranged from 1715 in 2008 (20.01% of total participants) to 4395 in 2014 (36.21% of total
participants). The most common reason for presentation to a Sports Trainer were soft tissue injuries (average 66.52%). Muscle strains accounted
for 33.02% of all presentations. Injuries to the lower limb accounted for 65.34% of all presentations. 12.36% of the records submitted by Sports
Trainers omitted the “injury type” data point. On average there was a 59% higher rate of attendance to Sports Trainers at the PPMG compared to
the AUG (presentations per participant: PPMG 0.330, AUG 0.208).
Discussion: Older athletes access medical services at the PPMG at a higher rate than at the AUG. High rates of muscle strains is consistent with
other studies comparing injury rates of older athletes with younger participants. Medical encounter data collected by Sports Trainers at the PPMG
provides useful information about the incidence of sports related injuries and medical conditions in older athletes at a multi-sport event, however
more training of Sports Trainers to improve the validity of data collection may be beneficial.
18 Risk factors for hamstring injury: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
T. Pizzari 1 *
1
La Trobe University
Thursday 22 October
Background: Hamstring muscle strain injuries are a considerable issue in many sports with a high incidence and risk of re-injury, poor healing
responses and prolonged symptoms. Despite the large amount of research that has examined hamstring injury there has been limited improvements
in injury and recurrence rates. Studies aimed at the identification of risk factors are common, but the literature is plagued by inconsistent findings,
analysis of a wide range of single variables, and contains methodology that does meet suggested guidelines for hamstring risk factor research.
This paper presents a systematic review and meta-analysis of intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors associated with hamstring muscle strain injury.
Methods: A search of health databases from inception to September 2014 was undertaken using search terms relating to the hamstring muscle,
athlete, pathology, and risk. Citation tracking and reference scanning were also performed. Prospective studies of sports-related hamstring strains
that assessed some aspect of risk of occurrence or recurrence were included. Random effects meta-analysis was performed where possible to
synthesize the data.
Results: Forty-seven studies were included in the study after deletion of duplicates and application of selection criteria. Meta-analysis showed that
age, previous history of hamstring injury and quadriceps peak torque were associated with hamstring injury, while other isokinetic strength measure,
player anthropometrics and most flexibility measures were not. Qualitative analysis identified some associations with active knee extension,
quadriceps flexibility, previous ACL / knee injury, eccentric strength or endurance of hamstring, and ethnicity. Fatigue was implicated as a risk factor
by proxy measures of injury timing, match characteristics and interchange rates. Some important interactions between risk factor variables were
identified.
Discussion: A plethora of potential risk factors have been examined, many in single studies, making it difficult for the clinician and athlete to
synthesize this large body of literature and translate the findings into practice. Studies of risk factors in this area have been criticised for using a
reductionist model and failing to examine complex interactions between risk factor variables. This review collates the evidence to guide clinical
practice, directs future research and addresses the limitations of the current evidence.
19 Injuries can be Prevented in Contact Flag Football!
Y. Kaplan 1 * • E. Palmanovich 2 • J. Victor 3 • E. Witvrouw 3 • M. Nyska 4 • G. Myklebust 4
1
Lerner Sports Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem • 2 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba, Israel • 3 Department of Physical medicine and
Orthopedic surgery, Ghent University, Ghent • 4 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba, Israel
Introduction: This original prospective cohort study was conducted in an attempt to significantly reduce the incidence and the severity of injuries in
an intervention cohort as compared to a two-season historical cohort, and to provide recommendations to the International Federation of Football
(IFAF) pertaining to prevention measures to make the game safer.
Methods: 1260 amateur male (mean age: 20.4 ± 3.9yrs) and 244 female (mean age: 18.5 ± 1.7 yrs) players participated in the study. Four
prevention measures were implemented: The no-pocket rule, self-fitting mouth guards, ankle braces (for those players with recurrent ankle sprains)
and an injury treatment information brochure.
All time-loss injuries sustained in game sessions were recorded by the off-the-field medical personnel and followed up by a more detailed phone
injury surveillance questionnaire.
Results: There was an 54% reduction in the total number of injuries, and a significant reduction in the incidence rate and incidence proportion
between the intervention cohort as compared to the historical cohort (P