title: The relationship between pre-season fitness testing and injury in elite junior Australian football players.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Australian Football (AF) is a collision sport containing high injury rates in junior competition. Successful performance at the elite junior level not only requires superior specific football knowledge and skills, but also well developed fitness qualities. However, no studies have examined the link between physical fitness qualities and injury in AF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Injury data were collected through the use of a Player Movement Record (PMR) and a standardized Injury Report Form (IRF). Fitness test data was collected during the pre-season of the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  382 players consented to participate in the study. The cohort experienced an injury incidence rate of 24.29/standardized club (40 players/club). A faster 5-m sprint was associated with 'injury status' (p=0.016) and a 'knee' region (p≤0.001) injury. A faster planned agility score was associated with an increased risk of a 'hip/groin/thigh' region (p=0.010) injury, and specifically a 'quadriceps strain' (p=0.005). A lower 20-m shuttle run was associated with an increased risk of a 'shin/ankle/foot' (p=0.045) injury. Increased injury severity was associated with a higher left foot running vertical jump (VJ) (p=0.040), and faster 5-m sprint (p=0.043).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower aerobic endurance, faster 5-m acceleration and greater planned agility were associated with an increased risk of various injury types in elite junior AF players. Furthermore, a higher left foot running VJ and faster 5-m acceleration were associated with injury severity. These results may largely relate to a greater work capacity placing a higher load upon the musculoskeletal system in contact and non-contact situations.
authors.affiliation: Exercise for Health and Human Performance Research Group, Sansom Institute, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Australia. samuel.chalmers@mymail.unisa.edu.au
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chalmers
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Magarey
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esterman
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Speechley
authors.forename: Ebonie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scase
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heynen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult