OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of a specific exercise programme on preventing lower extremity injury in adult elite orienteerers. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Elite orienteering. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-two orienteerers (n = 32/30, male/female) were randomized and followed over 14 weeks. The intervention group completed an exercise programme 4 times per week. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of substantial injuries, average substantial injury prevalence and incidence of ankle sprains over the competitive season. In per-protocol analyses, compliance rate to exercise programme was considered. RESULTS: No significant differences between control and intervention group were found for substantial injured orienteerers (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.19 to 1.34), number of substantial injuries (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.18 to 1.13) and incidence of ankle sprains (p = 0.775). In per-protocol analyses, significant differences in substantial injured orienteerers (difference -7.9%, OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.97) and number of substantial injuries (difference -8.5%, OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.92) in favour for the orienteers completing the exercises at least twice a week, compared to the control group, were found. CONCLUSIONS: An exercise programme, consisting of balance and jump exercises, is suggested to be performed at least twice per week in order to reduce the risk of lower extremity injury in elite orienteerers.

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