The Topsportlab injury prediction algorithm (IPA) is an injury prevention and assessment tool, available as an online application, which allows the medical and technical staff to log in anywhere, at any moment in time. By analyzing output of periodical medical and physical tests, the scientific software indicates susceptible body zones in relation to risk of injury and re-injury. With a single look at the visualization, the medical staff gains critical insights into each player’s injury prone zones, allowing more effective injury prevention strategies, personalized for each player.
How was IPA developed?
More than five years of scientific research at the K.U.Leuven, in cooperation with multiple professional football clubs and clinical experts in the domain of prevention and rehabilitation of football injuries, has provided Topsportlab with a reliable injury prediction algorithm. This tool has proven to be a significant predictor of future injuries.
This Algorithm was developed in close cooperation with Lstat, the Leuven statistics research centre and the department of Biomedical Kinesiology of the K.U.Leuven
How does IPA work?
1. Results of the medical and physical tests used in the club during the past few years are added to the algorithm and analysed by the self-learning software tool. A primary prediction will be made and the corresponding analysis will be available online.
2. Additional medical and physical tests will be suggested to optimize the injury prevention. These suggested tests are available online for the medical and paramedical staff.
3. Based on the different test results, deficiencies and imbalances at the different high susceptible body zones (i.e. Hamstrings,Groin, …) are identified and converted into an individual risk profile for each of these zones, enabling personalized prevention strategies for each player.
4. As an additional service, individual injury prevention training programs can be developed in cooperation with the medical staff, focussing on the most important intrinsic risk factors per player.
5. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of a training program, clubs can re-execute the screening, allowing them to track their evolution over time.