Effectiveness of a Judo-specific Injury Prevention Programme on Performance in Judo Athletes

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

IPPON warm-up programme: The IPPON intervention is an injury prevention programme designed specifically to reduce injuries in judo athletes. The trainer-supervised IPPON intervention mainly focuses on preventing musculoskeletal injuries of the shoulder, knee and ankle. The IPPON intervention consists of 36 exercises divided into (1) flexibility and agility, (2) balance and coordination and (3) strength and stability. Each category consisted of 12 exercises with 3 levels of difficulty. Athletes performed 4 exercises per category and thus 12 exercises at the start of the training at least two times per week.

Study summary

Judo is a popular international combat sport with an estimated 20 million active participants world-wide and participation in judo entails a substantial risk of injury in both elite and recreational judo. It is known that judo involves a significantly higher risk of sports per activity compared with another combat sports such as wrestling, karate, taekwondo an deven popular team sports such as football, basketball and volleyball. Therefore, preventing injuries in judo is so important and various interventions can use in this regard. These include; taping, warm-up and cool-down programs, proper technique trainings and exercise programs. Injury prevention programmes in other sports have been proven effective in reducing injury rates for elite and recreational athletes. In judo, research on exercise-based prevention is limited to the description of injury prevention programs, but the effectiveness of these programs has never been evaluated. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the judo-specific ''IPPON'' warm-up programs for injury prevention of judokas on performance parameters and incidence of injuries among professional judo athletes. In this study, the investigators research the Judo-Specific Special Conditioning Test and the Isometric/Dynamic Judogi Grip Strength Test will be evaluated for performance parameters. In addition, the Upper and Lower Extremity Y Balance Test will be evaluated for balance and the Upper Extremity Internal/External Rotation Strength Test and the Lower Extremity Hamstring/Quadriceps Strength Test will be evaluated for muscle strength assessment. The Turkish translation of the Oslo Trauma Research Center Overuse Questionnaire (OSTRC-O) will be used to monitor the incidence of injuries among professional judo athletes.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Specific Judo Fitness Test (SJFT) — 8 weeks
  The SJFT formula is based ona total of throws (TT) made in three sets (1-15 s, 2-30 s, 3-30 s) separated by a 10 s break and heart rate (HR) collected immediately after the test and after 1 min with the inversely related index as the primary outcome \[6\]. During each period the athlete (tori) been evaluated throws two partners (uke A and B; far from each by 6 m) as many time as possible using the ippon-seoi-nage technique. Both uke A and B should have a similar height and weight from the tori. Just after and one minute after the test heart rate is measured.
• Isometric Judogi Grip Strength Test — 8 weeks
  Isometric judogi chin-up: the athletes were asked to keep their elbows flexed with their chin above the hands for as long as possible and holding time was clocked. The test was interrupted as soon as athletes were unable to maintain the initial isometric position. In this test, athletes were encouraged to maintain the position for as long as possible.
• Dynamic Judogi Grip Strength Test — 8 weeks
  Dynamic judogi chin-up: the athletes were asked to stretch their elbows completely and then flex them until the chin was above the bar and repetitions of the complete exercise were counted. Only repetitions which were carried out completely were counted, and the test was interrupted as soon as athletes were no longer able to carry out the proposed exercise completely and/or gave up voluntarily. In this test, athletes were encouraged to carry out as many dynamic repetitions as possible.
• Upper Extremity Y Balance Test (UQ-YBT) — 8 weeks
  UQ-YBT: All participants will be provided written instructions and then observed a demonstration performed by one of the investigators. In their socks or barefoot, the participants then assumed a pushup position with feet no greater than shoulder width apart. While maintaining the pushup position, the participant used his/her free hand to maximally reach, slowly and under control, in each of three directions Medial, Inferolateral, and Superolateral in a sequential order without the free hand touching down.
• Lower Extremity Y Balance Test (LQ-YBT) — 8 weeks
  LQ-YBT: Consisted of unilateral lower extremity reaches in the ANT, PM and PL directions. After written instructions were given and the test was demonstrated by one of the instructors, the participants were asked to keep their stance heel down and hands on hips while performing each reach direction with the non-stance leg in socks or barefoot. After a one-minute rest period, the participants will be completed three formal testing trials for each of the ANT, PM, and PL directions.
• Upper Extremity External/Internal Rotation (ER/IR) Muscle Strength Ratio — 8 weeks
  For the ER/IR muscle strength measurements, the Hand Held Dynamometer (Jamaar) will be placed 2 cm proximal of the processus styloideus ulnae, on the dorsal (ER strength) or ventral (IR strength) forearm during sitting position. Three repetitions of 5 seconds of maximal voluntary effort were performed using a ''make'' test (gradually increasing resistance up to maximum without ''breaking'' the subject's strength).
• Lower Extremity Hamstring/Quadriceps (H/Q) Muscle Strength Ratio — 8 weeks
  Participants performed two maximal isometric repetitions intending to flex and extend the knee in each lower limb to assess isometric hamstring and quadriceps strength, respectively. Before the onset of the testing, participants performed a standardized and specific warm-up. For quadriceps, test will be performed on a custom-built bench while participants are in a seated position at 30° of knee flexion and 90° of hip flexion with stabilization straps around the thighs. For hamstring, the participant will be seated at the edge of a table with the hip and knee flexed to 90 degrees and hands gripping the sides of the table while the clinician stabilizes the dynamometer between the participant's leg and table. H/Q ratio will be calculated.

Trial sites (2)

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