Frank Devereux 4th year doctoral student

In order to establish, scientifically, that a games-based strategy is workable for injury prevention, 18 experts were called in to assess the merits of this approach, said Frank Devereux, lead researcher.

Reducing injuries in secondary students using a more engaging, “games-based approach”

05/12/2023

A games-based approach to injury prevention in children, whether athletic or sedentary, is more engaging and may lead to less injuries occurring in primary and secondary school students.

That is the conclusion of a DCU study led by Frank Devereux, which included Dr Enda Whyte, Dr Nathan Gavin and Dr Siobhan O’Connor, all based at the School of Health and Human Performance.

“Our goal is to make exercise more enjoyable for both athletic and the non-athletic, and thus provide injury prevention benefits for all students, " said Frank Devereux, a fourth year doctoral candidate.

Enjoyment is a key reason why children and adolescents participate in sport and physical activity. Current injury prevention programmes are frequently perceived as boring, and subsequently are not being carried out effectively.

“Nonsporting children are not taking part in existing programmes, and we decided to adopt a games based approach for all adolescents, including the sedentary.”

In order to establish, scientifically, that a games-based strategy is workable for injury prevention, 18 experts were called in to assess the merits of this approach.

“We brought in athletic therapists, physiotherapists, PE teachers, and strength and conditioning coaches to develop a framework for a games-based injury prevention exercise programme which could be used in PE class.”

“They were asked online what they thought, through four rounds of a survey, and the feedback was that if the required teaching supports and resources were available that it was workable.”

The games can be designed to suit the individual, which is crucial when attempting to implement it within the general population, said Devereux, and to take account of cultural or local differences. This means the approach can potentially be used globally.

The experts said that a games-based approach - to be successful - must include an element of strength, speed, agility, balance and jumping technique, while being physically and mentally challenging, competitive, and most importantly, enjoyable.

“The next stage is that we will get school children in to conduct a games-based approach and determine whether, in fact, it can reduce the risk of injury in adolescents,” said Devereux.