Edinburgh Napier University

  Introduction: There is limited evidence on noncontact injury epidemiology, current warm-up practice and exercise interventions used to reduce injuries in hockey. Therefore, the aims of this thesis are to investigate (1) noncontact injuries, (2) current warm-up practice and (3) the effects of a novel warm-up on female sub-elite hockey players in Scotland.

Methodology: Study 1 was an online injury survey on 317 hockey players focussing on noncontact injuries. Study 2 was an observational study that investigated the current warm-up practices of 17 hockey teams. Study 3 was a controlled study that used 40 female hockey players and explored the effects of an 8-week hockey-specific neuromuscular training programme (NMTP) on electromyography, kinematics and kinetics during a sagittal plane hop, hop and twist and unanticipated sidecut.

Results: Study 1 showed that the most common injuries were affecting the knee and hamstrings (0.89 and 0.69/1000 hours respectively) with no timeloss (31.4%) or mild to moderate injuries (30.3%) and usually occurred during sidecutting, sudden acceleration and landing (19.6%, 13.8% and 12.9% respectively). The injuries were more frequently occurring to females than males 4.73 vs 3.47/1000 hours. Study 2 revealed a warm-up time of 20 minutes including pulse raiser, activate and mobilise and potentiate elements. The occurrence of static stretching was greater (41.2%) than neuromuscular training (11.7%). Study 3 showed some significant increases in muscle activation for Gastrocnemius, Quadriceps and Gluteals both pre-and post-landing, with greater increases in the intervention group. There were significant reductions in maximum knee abduction, excursion and the rate of force development following 8-weeks of neuromuscular training. There were no significant differences in performance.

Conclusion: Noncontact hockey injury epidemiology requires further research and the current provision of warm-ups should be evidence-based. A novel hockey-specific NMTP can elicit some significant changes in muscle activity, kinematics and kinetics that may reduce the risk of noncontact injuries.