Unveiling injury risks: The impact of fatigue on functional movement screen performance in youth hockey players

Study aim: This study aimed to identify factors associated with injury risk before and during fatigue among youth hockey players. Materials and methods: One hundred and twenty male and female (age: 14.44 ± 1.17 years, BMI: 19.29 ± 3.43) youth hockey players were recruited for this study from hockey talent high schools. The potential associated factors or determinants for injury risk were musculoskeletal screening tools: pelvic kinematics (single leg vertical drop jump), core stability (plank test), trunk extensor endurance (Sorensen test), dynamic balance (Y-Balance Test) and a pain scale (VAS). Data for all outcome measures were taken for PRE (before fatigue simulation), POST0 (immediately after fatigue simulation) and POST15 (15 minutes after fatigue simulation). Repeated sprint ability (RSA) was used as a fatigue simulation. Simple linear regression was performed to analyse the data statistically. Results: Right-side pelvic kinematics was found to be significantly associated with FMS at PRE, POST0 and POST15 among youth hockey players ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: Right-side pelvic kinematics may be associated with injury risk.