TY - JOUR T1 - Implementing a junior high school-based programme to reduce sports injuries through neuromuscular training (iSPRINT): a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) JF - British Journal of Sports Medicine JO - Br J Sports Med SP - 913 LP - 919 DO - 10.1136/bjsports-2019-101117 VL - 54 IS - 15 AU - Carolyn A Emery AU - Carla van den Berg AU - Sarah Ann Richmond AU - Luz Palacios-Derflingher AU - Carly D McKay AU - Patricia K Doyle-Baker AU - Megan McKinlay AU - Clodagh M Toomey AU - Alberto Nettel-Aguirre AU - Evert Verhagen AU - Kathy Belton AU - Alison Macpherson AU - Brent E Hagel Y1 - 2020/08/01 UR - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/54/15/913.abstract N2 - Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of a junior high school-based sports injury prevention programme to reduce injuries through neuromuscular training (NMT).Methods This was a cluster randomised controlled trial. Students were recruited from 12 Calgary junior high schools (2014–2017). iSPRINT is a 15 min NMT warm-up including aerobic, agility, strength and balance exercises. Following a workshop, teachers delivered a 12-week iSPRINT NMT (six schools) or a standard-of-practice warm-up (six schools) in physical education classes. The definition of all recorded injuries included injuries that resulted in participants being unable to complete a sport and recreation (S&R) session, lost time from sport and/or seek medical attention. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated based on multiple multilevel Poisson regression analyses (adjusting for sex (considering effect modification) and previous injury, offset by S&R participation hours, and school-level and class-level random effects were examined) for intent-to-treat analyses.Results 1067 students (aged 11–16) were recruited across 12 schools (6 intervention schools (22 classes), 6 control schools (27 classes); 53.7% female, 46.3% male). The iSPRINT programme was protective of all recorded S&R injuries for girls (IRR=0.543, 95% CI 0.295 to 0.998), but not for boys (IRR=0.866, 95% CI 0.425 to 1.766). The iSPRINT programme was also protective of each of lower extremity injuries (IRR=0.357, 95% CI 0.159 to 0.799) and medical attention injuries (IRR=0.289, 95% CI 0.135 to 0.619) for girls, but not for boys (IRR=1.055, 95% CI 0.404 to 2.753 and IRR=0.639, 95% CI 0.266 to 1.532, respectively).Conclusion The iSPRINT NMT warm-up was effective in preventing each of all recorded injuries, lower extremity injuries and medically treated S&R injuries in female junior high school students.Trial registration number NCT03312504 ER -