Contact injuries in field hockey and the potential role for personal protective equipment.

Field hockey is played with sticks and a hard ball. It is fast-paced, with athletes playing together in close proximity. Athletes may be at increased risk of sustaining injuries through contact. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of contact injuries in field hockey. Data were collected during the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 Irish Hockey League seasons. This study included two methods of data collection among male athletes: self-reported injuries and via those reported by the teams' physiotherapists. Injuries were defined as any physical complaint sustained during field hockey, supplemented by medical attention and time-loss injuries. Only contact injuries were included for analysis. Overall, 107 contact injuries were incurred, giving rise to an injury incidence rate of 3.1/1000 h, and accounting for 33.1% of all injuries. Athletes had an absolute risk of 0.372 of sustaining a contact injury. Contusions (48.6%) were the most common type of contact injury, while injuries to the head/face (20.6%) were the most frequently reported location. Contact injuries represent an important proportion of all injuries. Rule changes to mandate the use of personal protective equipment in field hockey may assist in reducing the absolute risk and severity of contact injuries in field hockey.

Comparison of time-matched aerobic, resistance or combined exercise training in women living with obesity: a protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial-the EXOFFIT (Exercise for Obesity in Females to increase Fitness) study.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity in women has more than doubled in the past thirty years. Increasing research suggests that increased cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) can largely attenuate the negative health risks associated with obesity. Though previous literature suggests that combined training may be the most effective for improving CRF in adults with obesity, there is minimal research investigating the efficacy of combined and resistance programmes in women with obesity. This article outlines a protocol for a parallel pilot study which aims to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of three exercise modalities in women with obesity for increasing CRF and strength and improving body composition and other health outcomes (i.e. quality of life). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Sixty women (aged 18-50) with obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 and/or waist circumference ≥ 88 cm) who are physically inactive, have no unstable health conditions and are safe to exercise will be recruited from September 2021 to December 2022. The main outcome will be feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and procedures. Trial feasibility outcomes will be evaluated to determine if a definitive trial should be undertaken. Trial acceptability will be explored through follow-up qualitative interviews with participants. Secondary outcomes will include CRF (predicted VO2 max), anthropometrics (i.e. BMI), strength (5RM bench press, leg dynamometry, grip strength) and other health outcomes (i.e., pain). Participants will be block randomised into one of four trial arms (aerobic exercise, resistance training and combined training groups, non-active control group) and measurements will be completed pre- and post-intervention. The exercise groups will receive an individualised supervised exercise programme for 3× sessions/week for 12 weeks. The change in mean values before and after intervention will be calculated for primary and secondary outcomes. ANOVA and t-tests will be applied to evaluate within-group and between-group differences. If sufficient participants are recruited, the data will be analysed using ANCOVA with the age and BMI as covariates. DISCUSSION: This pilot will provide data on the feasibility and acceptability of trial procedures and of the programmes' three progressive time-matched exercise interventions (aerobic, resistance and combined) for women living with obesity, which will help inform future research and the potential development of a full-scale randomised clinical trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN, ISRCTN13517067 . Registered 16 November 2021-retrospectively registered.