Ready, Set, Prevent Video

Warm-up for Sports Injury Prevention

Narrator : Welcome to Ready. Set. Prevent. The Lower Extremity Injury Prevention Program developed by physicians and physical therapists at the Sports Medicine and Performance Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Designed to serve as a prepractice warm-up routine, this program specifically targets known risk factors and has been shown to reduce lower extremity injuries and improve athletic performance in pediatric and adolescent athletes.

Ready. Set. Prevent. should be performed in the first 15 minutes of practice and overseen by a coach or trainer.

This video shows proper form and instruction for all exercises. Coaches and athletic trainers must always remind athletes that proper form is necessary for all activities.

The Warm-up -- Mark out a distance of 10 to 15 yards. Do two laps each of a forward and then backward shuttle run, a side shuffle, and a carioca.

Dynamic Stretching for Sports Injury Prevention

Narrator : Dynamic stretching further prepares muscles for activity while also addressing common flexibility deficits in younger athletes. The athlete must use proper form while stretching.

The Inchworm Stretch -- From a modified push-up position slowly walk your feet toward your hands keeping your knees straight and back flat while pushing your heels toward the ground. When you feel the stretch in the back of your legs, pause for two seconds, then walk your hands forward. Repeat this sequence 5 times.

The Spider Stretch -- Begin in a push-up position. Bring one leg forward until your foot is next to your hand. Push your hips toward the ground while keeping your back knee straight. Pause for two seconds and repeat on the opposite side. You should feel a stretch in the hips and groin. Repeat 5 times on each side.

The Straight-leg March -- Lift your arms straight out in front. While walking forward, kick one leg up toward your hands, keeping your knees straight and toes up. Repeat on the opposite leg. Make sure to keep your back straight. Do not round your lower back. Repeat for a total of 10 kicks.

The Leg Cradle -- Step forward and lift one leg up. Grasp under your knee and ankle and gently pull your leg toward your chest until you feel a stretch. Release the leg. Step forward and repeat on the other side. Continue walking forward alternating legs for a total of 10 cradles. Make sure to keep your head and trunk upright and do not round your lower back.

Strengthening for Sports Injury Prevention - Phase One and Two

Narrator : Strengthening. The Strength Program has two phases. The first phase is for weeks 1 through 4. It is designed to provide a framework for proper form development and baseline strength gains. Phase Two is more challenging and should be performed from week 5 through the end of the season. Exercises must be done with proper form in order to gain benefit from the program.

Phase One. The Double-leg Squat -- Stand with your feet hip-width apart and toes pointing forward. Bend your knees and lower into a squat as if you are sitting into a chair. Keep your knees in line with your toes. Make sure to keep your weight shifted back so your knees remain behind your toes. If you need help balancing, you can hold your arms out. Repeat 20 times.

The Alternating Lunge -- Begin with your feet hip-width apart. Lunge forward until the front thigh is parallel to the ground. Push off your front heel and return to standing. Repeat on the other side. Make sure to keep your knee from collapsing inward and keep your toes pointing forward. From the side view you can see that the knee does not progress beyond the toes. Perform 20 repetitions.

The Double-leg Bridge -- Lie on your back. Place your feet on top of a soccer ball or basketball. Pressing down through the heels, lift your hips until your body is in a straight line. Slowly lower back down. If a ball is not available, simply keep your feet on the ground. Repeat 20 times.

The Side Plank -- Lie on your side with your elbow directly under your shoulder and your feet stacked on top of one another. Lift yourself up until your body is in a straight line. Do not let your hips roll backward and do not flex at your trunk. Hold this position for 10 seconds. Repeat 3 times on each side.

After four weeks move on to Phase Two.

The Single-leg Squat -- Begin balanced on one leg. Bend at your knee and lower into a squat as if you are sitting into a chair. Lower as far as you can with good control. Make sure to keep your toes pointed forward and your knee in line with your foot. Keep your weight back and do not allow your knee to progress beyond your toes. As you improve, you will be able to squat lower. Repeat 10 times per leg. Remember, never sacrifice technique in order to squat lower.

The Side Lunge -- From a standing position, step out to the side and lunge so that your thigh is parallel to the ground while keeping your toes pointed forward. Keep your opposite knee straight. Press back to center and repeat on the opposite side. Make sure the bent knee does not progress beyond the toes. Perform 10 repetitions per leg.

The Single-leg Bridge -- Lie on your back. Place one leg on top of a soccer ball or basketball. If a ball is not available, simply keep your feet on the ground. Extend your opposite leg so the knee is straight. Press down through your heel and raise your hips off the ground. Pause when your body is in a straight line. Slowly lower back to the ground. Repeat 10 times per leg. You can use your arms to stabilize, but do not press down with your arms to create movement.

The Side Plank -- Lie on your side with your elbow directly under your shoulder and your feet stacked on top of one another. Lift yourself up until your body is in a straight line do not let your hips roll back ward and do not flex at your trunk. Hold this position for 15 seconds. Repeat three times on each side.

Plyometrics for Sports Injury Prevention - Phase One and Two

Narrator : Plyometrics are explosive jumping exercises to increase strength, power, and speed. The plyometric program has two phases. The first phase is for weeks 1 through 4. Phase II is more challenging and should be performed from week 5 through the end of the season. Proper technique must be emphasized. Pay special attention to soft landings in a squat position with knee and ankle in good alignment. There should be no knock-kneed positioning upon landing.

The wall jump -- stand with your arms overhead. Perform small quick ankle bounces straight up and down staying in one place. Bounce quickly keeping landings quiet and knees soft. Repeat 15 times.

The squat jump -- begin in a squat position with good alignment. Knees are hip width apart, and the toes are pointing forward. From this position, jump straight up and land in a squat position. Attempt to land in the same spot. Repeat 15 times. Make sure the landings are soft and your knees do not collapse inward. Your knees should remain in alignment with your feet.

The double-legged cone jump -- stand next to a collapsible cone in a squat position. Jump rhythmically side to side over the cone. Land softly in a squat position keeping your knees in proper alignment. Repeat 15 times.

The 180-degree jump -- begin in athletic stance. Jump straight up, turn 180 degrees, and land softly in a squat. Immediately jump again, turn in the opposite direction, and land in a squat again. Repeat 10 times. Control the movement to prevent over rotation or under rotation.

Jump, jump, vertical jump -- begin by jumping forward two times. After the second landing, immediately jump straight up as high as possible and land in the same spot. Repeat this process 5 times. All landings must be soft, and you must maintain good lower extremity alignment. After four weeks, move on to phase two.

The single-leg squat jump -- begin balanced on one leg. Jump vertically and land on the same leg in a squat. Make sure you have your balance before initiating the next jump. Landings should be soft with no inward movement of the knee. Repeat 10 times per leg.

The single-leg cone hop — on one leg jump side to side over a cone landing softly with a slight bend in your knee. Repeat 10 times on each leg. Make sure that the knee does not collapse inward upon landing.

The lunge jump —begin in a lunge position. Jump straight up, switch legs in the air, and land back in the lunge. Landings should be soft and balanced. Repeat 10 times on each leg. As athletes improve, encourage explosiveness or higher jumps.

The single-leg forward hop. Perform consecutive single-leg hops making sure to land softly in a balanced position with a flexed knee. Encourage athletes to jump as far as they can maintaining proper form. Repeat 5 times per leg.

This concludes ready, set, prevent. Thank you for taking the time to learn this program. It will help your athletes stay strong, healthy, and injury free. For more information please call (215) 590-6919 or visit CHOP.edu/sportsmed.