Injury Prevention in the GAA
Dr Clare Lodge
MISCP, DPT



Psychological – Self / Family/
Team
Financial – personally/ club/
county board
Health – long term


“Ouch!” – 13 of the worst
injuries suffered by GAA
players in 2013
http://thescore.thejournal.ie/c
olm-oneill-cruciate-injury-20141215104-Dec2013/
Incidence of
Injury
•Over
the 4 seasons
estimated that there will
be 1.19 injuries per
player. (1)
•Injuries 15 x more
common during
matches than training
29%
Injured
Injury free
69%
Type of Injury


18%
50%

32%
Contact

Noncontact

unspecified
Non contact incorporated the
following mechanisms:
Sprinting
Turning
Landing
Kicking
35.00%
Distribution of
injury
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
72 % of all injuries
occur to the lower
limb
33.30%
28.20%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
9.40%
11.30%
10%
5%
2.80%
• Muscle injury
Bone
19.7
• Ligament Injury
ligament
25.3
M/s
tendon
52.80%
• Tendon Injury
32.4
“At Risk”
Mental
Health
Players
Strength
Training load
Conditioning
Player
Flexibility
Well
being
Nutrition
Hydration
 Prevent Injury
 Enhance
 Performance
Avoid
vulnerable
positions
Increase
flexibility
Increase
Strength
Include
Plyometrics
Include
Proprioception
+Agilities
www.learning.gaa.ie/node/268653
~You may need to work on specific areas of the Program
www.learning.gaa.ie/node/268683






Other studies (3),(4) implemented various programmes incorporating a
combination of the PEP program concepts and results are promising.
74%- 89% decrease in lower limb injury incidence
Noncontact injuries decreased by 1/3.
Re-occurence of lower limb injury was 5x more likely in the control
groups.
6-8 weeks required for the Program to have neuromuscular effect
Emphasis on technique:
- landing softly on the forefoot engaging hip
and knee flexion + avoid knee collapsing inward
- Deceleration techniques







Consider + incorporate PEP components into
training
Avoid poor techniques + vulnerable positions
Increase Flexibility
Increase Strength
Include Plyometrics
Include Agilities and Proprioception
Identify “at risk” players - Previous Incidence of
Injury is the best predictor of reinjury!
• Educate
• Increase awareness
• Demonstrate and reassess
• Individualise when necessary
• Modify for age
Murphy J, O’Malley E, Gissane C, Blake C (2012)
American Journal of Sports Medicine , vol. 40, No.9
(2)
Silvers H, Mandelbaum B (2011)
SportOrtho Trauma 27, 18-26
(3)
Alentorn-Geli E, Myer G, Silvers H, Samitier G (2009)
Prevention of non contact ACL injuries in Athletes : A review of prevention programs
aimed at modifying risk factors and reducing injury rates.
Knee surgery and sports traumatology 17:859-879
(4)
Griffin E, Letha Y (2003)
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research vol. 409; 53-60
www.learning.gaa.ie/node/268653
http://thescore.thejournal.ie/colm-oneill-cruciate-injury-2014-1215104-Dec2013/
(1)