Sports Nutrition Series - Phil Woodbridge - Ongoing PhD does nutrition impact on injury?

Nutrition’s Impact on Injury Prevention in Women’s Football

Guest Profile: Phil Woodbridge

• Lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University
• Registered Sports Nutritionist
• PhD Researcher focusing on nutritional interventions for injury prevention in female football players

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode of Women’s Football Hub, host Carolyn Kent interviews Phil Woodbridge about his groundbreaking PhD research on nutrition’s role in injury prevention and rehabilitation for recreational women’s football players.

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Key Topics Discussed

Research Background (00:00:40)

• Focus on recreational football players at levels 4-5 in England’s women’s football structure
• Addressing a significant research gap in women’s football nutrition

Study 1: Baseline Nutritional Assessment (00:02:46)

• Methods:
  • Food diary analysis
  • Nutrition knowledge questionnaire
  • Low energy symptoms investigation
• Key findings:
  • 56% of players had low energy
  • 43% showed low energy symptoms
  • 30% demonstrated poor nutrition knowledge

Study 2: Nutrition Intervention (00:07:13)

• Six-month, season-long intervention
• Objectives: Increase energy intake and carbohydrate consumption
• Intervention methods:
  • Weekly emails
  • Monthly videos
  • Recipes and meal plans
  • Motivational content

Study 3: Injury Recovery Case Studies (00:21:54)

• Individual case studies tracking nutrition’s impact on injury rehabilitation
• Injuries include:
  • ACL reconstruction
  • Back injuries
  • Developmental challenges for young players

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Key Research Insights

• Nutrition knowledge significantly impacts player performance
• Practical significance can outweigh statistical significance
• Coaching staff support is crucial for intervention success

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Challenges in Nutrition Research

• Potential under-reporting in food diaries
• Difficulty maintaining participant engagement
• Complex real-world research environment