Does a ten-week activate GAA warm-up intervention improve outcomes in adult male hurlers?

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Injuries are frequent in hurlers and injury prevention exercise programmes implemented during their warm-up could play a role in reducing injury risk. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a ten-week Activate GAA warm-up intervention improves outcomes (landing mechanics, dynamic postural control, quality of movement and hamstring and adductor strength) in hurlers. METHODS: A non-randomized controlled trial was implemented in adult male non-elite hurlers (intervention n=58; control n=59) and players were eligible if they were uninjured and currently playing with a non-elite hurling team. The landing error scoring system (LESS), Y balance test, overhead squat, single leg squat, hamstring strength test and adductor break test were assessed by one Certified Athletic Therapist pre- and post-intervention. The intervention group completed the Activate GAA warm-up prior to all training and games. Two participants were unable to complete post-testing due to injury in the control group only. RESULTS: The ANCOVA analysis revealed that the intervention group’s landing mechanics (LESS total score: p<0.0001, ηp2=0.34), postural control (Y balance test composite score: p<0.0001, ηp2=0.23), and quality of movement (Overhead squat: p<0.0001, ηp2=0.21; single leg squat dominant: p=0.04, ηp2=0.0.04; single leg squat non-dominant: p<0.0001, ηp2=0.12) were significantly better than the control group. Adductor and hamstring strength were not significantly improved (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the use of the Activate GAA warm-up in non-elite adult male hurlers with improvements observed in landing mechanics, dynamic postural control and quality of movement. Randomised controlled trials to examine its effect on injury incidence along with consideration of long-term compliance are required.