title: Predictors of lower extremity injuries in team sports (PROFITS-study): a study protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several intrinsic risk factors for lower extremity injuries have been proposed, including lack of proper knee and body control during landings and cutting manoeuvres, low muscular strength, reduced balance and increased ligament laxity, but there are still many unanswered questions. The overall aim of this research project is to investigate anatomical, biomechanical, neuromuscular, genetic and demographic risk factors for traumatic non-contact lower extremity injuries in young team sport athletes. Furthermore, the research project aims to develop clinically oriented screening tools for predicting future injury risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young female and male players (n=508) from nine basketball teams, nine floorball teams, three ice hockey teams, and one volleyball team accepted the invitation to participate in this four-and-half-year prospective follow-up study. The players entered the study either in 2011, 2012 or 2013, and gave blood samples, performed physical tests and completed the baseline questionnaires. Following the start of screening tests, the players will be followed for sports injuries through December 2015. The primary outcome is a traumatic non-contact lower extremity injury. The secondary outcomes are other sports-related injuries. Injury risk is examined on the basis of anatomical, biomechanical, neuromuscular, genetic and other baseline factors. Univariate and multivariate regression models will be used to investigate association between investigated parameters and injury risk.
authors.affiliation: Tampere Research Center of Sports Medicine, UKK Institute , Tampere , Finland.
authors.forename: Kati
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pasanen
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences , University of Jyväskylä , Jyväskylä , Finland.
authors.forename: Marko T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Tampere Research Center of Sports Medicine, UKK Institute , Tampere , Finland.
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parkkari
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences , University of Jyväskylä , Jyväskylä , Finland.
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heinonen
authors.affiliation: Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.affiliation: Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Grethe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Myklebust
authors.affiliation: Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Tron
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krosshaug
authors.affiliation: UKK Institute , Tampere , Finland.
authors.forename: Tommi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vasankari
authors.affiliation: Injury and Osteoporosis Research Center, UKK Institute , Tampere , Finland.
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kannus
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology of Physical Activity , University of Jyväskylä , Jyväskylä , Finland.
authors.forename: Janne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Avela
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology of Physical Activity , University of Jyväskylä , Jyväskylä , Finland.
authors.forename: Juha-Pekka
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kulmala
authors.affiliation: Tampere University of Applied Sciences , Tampere , Finland.
authors.forename: Jarmo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perttunen
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences , University of Jyväskylä , Jyväskylä , Finland.
authors.forename: Urho M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Kujala
authors.affiliation: Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Roald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bahr
keywords: ACL; Adolescent; Lowever extremity; Risk factor; Sporting injuries