Annals of Applied Sport Science

Background. Groin injuries are frequent and commonly seen in soccer. The Copenhagen Adduction Exercise (CAE) increases eccentric hip adduction strength and reduces the groin injury incident.
Objectives. To assess the professional and semi-professional soccer players and coaches’ awareness, implementation, and opinion of the CAE.
Methods. A cross-sectional study based on a survey consisting of questions covering the awareness, implementation, and opinion of CAE by soccer players and coaches. It was sent to all FIFA continental football federations. Primary outcomes were awareness level, implementation rate, and their view of the CAE’s effectiveness in reducing groin injury.
Results. A total of 1621 male and female professional and semi-professional soccer players (PP and SPP) and coaches (PC and SPC) completed the survey. Most PP (93.5%) and SPP (81.4%) were unaware of the CAE (p<0.001), with high implementation rates (p=0.005). In contrast, the PC had significantly higher awareness about the CAE than the SPC (p<0.001). A moderate association between the level and awareness (Cramér’s V=0.340) was found. The highest percentage of awareness was found in the UEFA at 42.6%. Over 67% of those who implemented the CAE reported a positive attitude about the program's efficacy, with a score of >8 out of 10.
Conclusion. Most PP, SPP, and SPC were unaware of the CAE. Further work needs to be done to educate soccer players and coaches about the importance of implementing the CAE and its effectiveness in reducing groin injuries to enhance the CAE implementation.

Background. Volleyball is a popular non-contact sport around the globe. Unfortunately, volleyball players often suffer from an ankle sprain and knee and shoulder injuries. Proper techniques, education, and preventive exercises such as adequate warm-ups can reduce the risk of injury.
Objectives. This study aimed to investigate and compare the implementation of the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center (OSTRC) volleyball injury prevention program’s exercises among professional volleyball players in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Methods. A web-based survey was conducted from October 2019 to October 2020 to acquire information regarding implementing the OSTRC volleyball injury prevention program’s exercises distributed to 377 professional volleyball players in six GCC countries. Chi-square statistics were used to examine differences among the countries and age groups.
Results. Three hundred forty-one male volleyball players participated (response rate of 90.5%), mostly 20-29 years old. About half of the volleyball players (range 46.9% to 56.9%) in the GCC countries performed the OSTRC volleyball injury prevention program’s exercises in their current practice. Exercise implementation rates varied among age groups and countries with no statistical difference (p = .973 and p = .913, respectively).
Conclusion. This study found that about 50% of volleyball players applied the 18 recommended OSTRC injury prevention exercises in the GCC countries. Awareness campaigns and training improvements need to be introduced to increase the implementation rates.