title: The prevention of injuries in contact flag football.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  American flag football is a non-tackle, contact sport with many moderate to severe contact-type injuries reported. A previous prospective injury surveillance study by the authors revealed a high incidence of injuries to the fingers, face, knee, shoulder and ankle. The objectives of the study were to conduct a pilot-prospective injury prevention study in an attempt to significantly reduce the incidence and the severity of injuries as compared to a historical cohort, as well as to provide recommendations for a future prospective injury prevention study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective injury prevention study was conducted involving 724 amateur male (mean age: 20.0 ± 3.1 years) and 114 female (mean age: 21.2 ± 7.2 years) players. Four prevention measures were implemented: the no-pocket rule, self-fitting mouth guards, ankle braces (for those players with recurrent ankle sprains) and an injury treatment information brochure. An injury surveillance questionnaire was administered to record all time-loss injuries sustained in game sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant reduction in the number of injured players, the number of finger/hand injuries, the incidence rate and the incidence proportion between the two cohorts (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This one-season pilot prevention study has provided preliminary evidence that finger/hand injuries can be significantly reduced in flag football. Prevention strategies for a longer, prospective, randomised-controlled injury prevention study should include the strict enforcement of the no-pocket rule, appropriate head gear, the use of comfortable-fitting ankle braces and mouth guards, and changing the blocking rules of the game.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium, sportmed@zahav.net.il.
authors.forename: Yonatan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: Grethe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Myklebust
authors.forename: Meir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nyska
authors.forename: Ezequiel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Palmanovich
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Victor
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Witvrouw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000150:complications; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011482:Protective Devices; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries; D055815:Young Adult