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Parsons J1, Preston S2
1University of Manitoba, Department of Physical Therapy, Winnipeg, Canada, 2Hong Kong Sport Institute, Sha Tin, N.T., Hong Kong
Background: In recent years, a more purposeful approach to training young athletes has been adopted. The early aim of Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) is to progress children and youth appropriately, taking into consideration safety and enjoyment, while delivering the physical training required for optimal athletic development. Recognized windows of opportunity exist around the time of puberty for development of physical attributes that are needed as a competitive athlete, such as strength and speed. Initiating neuromuscular training at a young age is also associated with lower risk of injury. The effect of LTAD programs on physical performance and risk of injury is of significant interest to the practitioners tasked with their planning and execution. However, reports of their effectiveness in younger adolescent athletes are limited.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of a 3-month, LTAD-based, strength and conditioning program on risk factors for injury, and physical performance in adolescent athletes.
Methods: A one-group, pretest-posttest design was used. After informed consent was obtained from parents, athletes enrolled in a developmental sport program through a local University underwent testing before and after their 3 month supervised training program, delivered 2-3 times per week, for 1.5 hours per session. The testing circuit consisted of a 5 minute dynamic warm-up, two injury risk factor tests (YBT and FMS), and the performance tests (10 & 20 metre sprints, countermovement jump for maximum height, and a series of reactive jumps). The number of asymmetries, and scores of 2 in the 7 subtests of the FMS, as well as composite, normalized, YBT scores for each leg, were tabulated and used in analyses. The fastest of 3 sprint trials, and the better of 2 countermovement jumps were used in analyses. Reactive Strength Index (RSI) was calculated from a series of 10 reactive jumps on a Smart Jump Mat (Fusion Sport, Chicago, IL), where the athlete concentrated on maximizing jump height while minimizing ground contact time.
Results: Twenty-five athletes (16 female, 9 male), aged 12-16 years, completed pre- and post-testing. Athletic performance significantly improved for 20 metre sprint time (pre- 3.43 ± 0.20; post-test 3.39 ± 0.18 seconds, p=0.02), jump height (pre- 27.5 ± 4.5; post-test 29.5 ± 5.6 cm, p=0.002), and RSI (pre- 1.04 ± 0.42; post-test 1.20 ± 0.31, p=0.02); however there was no change in the YBT (left leg pre- 91.7 ± 7.0%; post-test 92.3 ± 7.3%, p=0.66; right leg pre- 91.9 ± 7.4%; post-test 92.1 ± 7.5%, p=0.81), the number of FMS subtests demonstrating asymmetry (pre- median 1, range 0-2; post-test median 1, range 0-2, p=0.85), or the number of FMS subtests scoring 2 (pre- median 1, range 0-5; post-test median 1, range 0-3, p=0.56).
Conclusion(s): An LTAD program, delivered 2-3x/week, improves sprint speed, jump height and reactive strength, but does not seem to affect factors associated with injury risk.
Implications: Aspects of training that decrease injury risk must be determined and implemented in the context of LTAD-based programs to ensure continued health and success of young athletes.
Keywords: youth athletes, injury risk, Long Term Athlete Development
Funding acknowledgements: University of Manitoba Research Grants Program
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of a 3-month, LTAD-based, strength and conditioning program on risk factors for injury, and physical performance in adolescent athletes.
Methods: A one-group, pretest-posttest design was used. After informed consent was obtained from parents, athletes enrolled in a developmental sport program through a local University underwent testing before and after their 3 month supervised training program, delivered 2-3 times per week, for 1.5 hours per session. The testing circuit consisted of a 5 minute dynamic warm-up, two injury risk factor tests (YBT and FMS), and the performance tests (10 & 20 metre sprints, countermovement jump for maximum height, and a series of reactive jumps). The number of asymmetries, and scores of 2 in the 7 subtests of the FMS, as well as composite, normalized, YBT scores for each leg, were tabulated and used in analyses. The fastest of 3 sprint trials, and the better of 2 countermovement jumps were used in analyses. Reactive Strength Index (RSI) was calculated from a series of 10 reactive jumps on a Smart Jump Mat (Fusion Sport, Chicago, IL), where the athlete concentrated on maximizing jump height while minimizing ground contact time.
Results: Twenty-five athletes (16 female, 9 male), aged 12-16 years, completed pre- and post-testing. Athletic performance significantly improved for 20 metre sprint time (pre- 3.43 ± 0.20; post-test 3.39 ± 0.18 seconds, p=0.02), jump height (pre- 27.5 ± 4.5; post-test 29.5 ± 5.6 cm, p=0.002), and RSI (pre- 1.04 ± 0.42; post-test 1.20 ± 0.31, p=0.02); however there was no change in the YBT (left leg pre- 91.7 ± 7.0%; post-test 92.3 ± 7.3%, p=0.66; right leg pre- 91.9 ± 7.4%; post-test 92.1 ± 7.5%, p=0.81), the number of FMS subtests demonstrating asymmetry (pre- median 1, range 0-2; post-test median 1, range 0-2, p=0.85), or the number of FMS subtests scoring 2 (pre- median 1, range 0-5; post-test median 1, range 0-3, p=0.56).
Conclusion(s): An LTAD program, delivered 2-3x/week, improves sprint speed, jump height and reactive strength, but does not seem to affect factors associated with injury risk.
Implications: Aspects of training that decrease injury risk must be determined and implemented in the context of LTAD-based programs to ensure continued health and success of young athletes.
Keywords: youth athletes, injury risk, Long Term Athlete Development
Funding acknowledgements: University of Manitoba Research Grants Program
Topic: Sport & sports injuries; Paediatrics
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: University of Manitoba
Ethics committee: University of Manitoba Health Research Ethics Board
Ethics number: HS20030 (HS2016:312)
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
