Effects of Knee Control
The first study on Knee Control was conducted in Swedish youth female football in 2008-2009 on > 4500 girls in the ages of 12-17 years in 8 football districts. This study showed that the risk of severe knee injury (anterior cruciate ligament injury) was 64% lower in players who used Knee Control on a regular basis. The preventive effect was greatest in players with high compliance who used the programme most often.In follow-ups we found that many coaches knew about and used the Knee Control programme. However, many coaches modify the programme and used only some of the exercises or trained less frequently than recommended, which may reduce the preventive efficacy.
Development of Knee Control+
We learned from coaches that they wished for more options to vary and adapt Knee Control depending on their players’ age and playing-level. We thus developed Knee Control into Knee Control+, with more exercise options to challenge both the youngest and the oldest players and for more variability. Considering the high prevalence of muscle and tendon injuries in football we also included exercises specifically targeting these injuries.Effects of Knee Control+
In a 2020 study in youth and senior amateur football and showed that teams who used a pilot version of Knee Control+ had 29% lower risk of injury to the hamstrings, knee and ankle compared with teams who used self-selected injury prevention exercises.Support for Knee Control programme use
Coaches express a need for more knowledge and support when using the Knee Control programmes. To succeed with the preventive training, coaches and players suggest that exercises can be integrated in the football training and varied over time, and that routines for preventive training should be established early on. Some challenges include limited access to football grounds, and thereby limited time for preventive training, and low motivation among some players. Coaches often lead the preventive training but players also need to take own responsibility to use the exercises. We are currently exploring new ways to support coaches and players to engage in injury prevention training.Funding & collaboration
The projects have been funded by the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, the Swedish Research Council for Sport Science, the Swedish Football Association and the insurance company Folksam.New material for Knee Control and Knee Control+ have been produced in collaboration with the Swedish Football Association and included in the Swedish football coach education curriculum. You can access the programmes here.