References country | Primary outcome measure/means of reporting | Participants | Intervention | Follow-up period | Compliance | Effect of intervention (95% CI) | Conclusion | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Askling et al. [52] Sweden | Time loss Injuries to the hamstring% Injury occurrence | IG: 15 CG: 15 Mean age IG: 24 CG: 26 | 10 weeks preseason intervention encompassing 16 sessions of hamstring training using concentric and eccentric actions, after a standardized warm-up | 1 season of 10 months | NR | IG 20% CG 67% Significantly fewer injuries in the IG (p < 0.05) | Eccentric hamstring training may result in a lower occurrence of hamstring strains | High injury rate in the CG (67%) No loss to FU |
Engebretsen et al. [12] Norway | Time loss Injuries to the ankle, knee, groin, or hamstring in high-risk players Mean injury Incidence per 1,000 h/RR) | High-risk players IG: 193 CG: 195 Mean age NR | Progressive exercise program for the ankle, knee, groin, and/or hamstring 3 × a week for 10 weeks then × 1 a week for the rest of the season | 1 season of 7 months | 19–30% during the preseason intervention | IG = 4.9 CG = 5.3 RR 0.93 (0.71–1.21) This was NS (p = 0.50) | The risk of injury in players deemed at higher risk was not changed with a targeted training program | 19 of the 31 teams already performed preventive exercises in regular training ITT analysis conducted 3% players lost to FU |
Fredberg et al. [51] Denmark | All injuries to the Achilles and/or patellar tendon% Injury risk/RD | IG: 98 CG: 146 Mean age 25 | Eccentric exercise and stretching program of Achilles and patellar tendons All exercises performed for 10 min 3 times a week | 12 months | 2.25/week | Patella = RD 0% (p = 1.0) Achilles = RD 2% (p = 0.86) These were NS | Eccentric exercise had no positive effects on the risk of Achilles or patella tendon injury | CG ‘allowed to continue with the different types of flexibility training that they all used’ No ITT analysis 17% team withdrawn |
Hölmich et al. [53] Denmark | All injuries to the groin Time to first groin injury/HR | IG: 524 CG: 453 Mean age IG: 24 CG: 25 | 6 exercises including hip adduction and abdominal strengthening, coordination and stretching, 2–4 times a week | 1 season of 10 months | NR | HR 0.69 (0.40–1.19) This was NS (p = 0.18) | Intervention resulted in no significant reduction in groin injury risk | No ITT analysis Injured players censored 56% teams and 7% of remaining players withdrawn |
Mohammadi [55] Unclear | All ankle inversion sprain re-injuries RR of injury per 1,000 h | Each IG: 20 CG: 20 Mean age 25 | Progressive ankle disc training for 30 min daily (PT) Isometric and dynamic specific evertor strength training (ST). | 1 season after injury | NR | PT − RR 0.13 (0.003–0.93) significantly fewer injuries in the IG (p = 0.02) ST − RR 0.5 (0.11–1.87) This was NS (p = 0.27) | Progressive ankle disc training may reduce the risk of recurrent ankle inversion injuries | Information on much of the study design is lacking No ITT analyses No loss to FU |
Petersen et al. [50] Denmark | All hamstring injuries Injury rates per 100 player seasons/rate ratio | IG: 461 CG: 481 Mean age IG: 23 CG: 24 | 10 weeks of progressive eccentric hamstring training followed by a weekly program | 1 season (2 half seasons over 12 months) | 91% of the initial 27 sessions | IG 3.8 CG 13.1 Rate ratio 0.292 (0.136–0.631) Significantly fewer injuries in the IG (p < 0.001) | Additional eccentric hamstring training significantly reduced the risk of hamstring strain | No ITT analysis 7% teams and 8% of remaining players withdrawn |
Tropp et al. [56] Sweden | Time loss ankle sprains in those with a history of sprain% Injury risk | CG: 75 IG: 65 Mean age NR | 10 min of ankle disc training 5 times a week for 10 weeks. Then 5 min, 3 times a week | 6 months | NR | IG 5% CG 25% Significantly fewer re-injuries in the IG (p < 0.01) | In players with a history of ankle sprain, ankle disc training is indicated to reduce the risk of re-injury | Information on key aspects of study design lacking No loss to FU |
van Beijsterveldt et al. [54] Holland | All injury incidences Injury incidence per 1,000 sports h | IG: 223 CG: 233 Mean age IG: 24 CG: 25 | 10 exercises, used at each training session, 2/3 times a week. Included core stability, muscle strengthening, proprioceptive, stabilization and plyometric exercises | 1 season of 9 months | 71% player compliance | IG: 9.6 (8.4–11.0) CG: 9.7 (8.5–11.1) This was NS (p > 0.05) | No significant differences found in the overall injury incidence or injury severity between the IG and CG | No ITT analysis 6% players lost to FU |