RESUMEN
Schlingermann, BE, Lodge, CA, Gissane, C, and Rankin, PM. Effects of the Gaelic Athletic Association 15 on lower extremity injury incidence and neuromuscular functional outcomes in collegiate Gaelic games. J Strength Cond Res 32(7): 1993-2001, 2018-The purpose of this observational analytical cohort study was to assess the effectiveness of an injury prevention program (IPP)-Gaelic Athletic Association 15 (GAA15)-on the incidence of injury in collegiate Gaelic games. One hundred and thirty-one Gaelic games players (mean age 20.5 years ± SD 3.0) were used for analysis in this study. Participants completed preseason and postseason testing which involved performance of the Y-Balance Test. The GAA15 was used for the intervention group; coaches were instructed to implement the program before every training session and match throughout the collegiate Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) season. The control group adopted their normal warm-up procedures for the season. The players' injuries were documented on a weekly basis by allied health care professionals working with the teams using an online database system. Results showed significant improvements in composite Y-Balance scores in favor of the intervention group (adjusted mean difference Right: 1.8 % normalized mean reach distance (%NMRD) [p = 0.007]/Left: 2.3 %NMRD [p = 0.001]). Injury rates in the intervention group (2.62 injuries per 1,000 hours) were reduced by 66% (p = 0.001) in comparison with an age-matched control group (7.62 per 1,000 hour). Training injuries, hamstring injuries, noncontact injuries, and severe injuries were also reduced as a result of the implementation of the GAA15 (injury rate ratio: 0.20, 0.59, 0.39, and 0.45, respectively). Implementation of an IPP such as the GAA15 can reduce the risk of injury in Gaelic games and influence players' neuromuscular performance assessed through the Y-Balance Test.
