EFFECTIVENESS OF MULTICOMPONENT LOWER EXTREMITY INJURY PREVENTION PROGRAMMES IN TEAM-SPORT ATHLETES: AN UMBRELLA REVIEW

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Most papers considering injury prevention programmes have previously only considered 1 exercise approach at a time, which contradicts the general thinking that most injuries are likely to be linked to a complexity of factors. Therefore, this review paper aimed at considering the breadth of injury prevention programmes available for team sports, particularly focusing on which combinations of exercises might be most effective.

METHODS

The authors considered moderate to high quality papers that looked at combinations of at least two exercise-based injury prevention approaches and reported effects on lower limb injuries in team sports. Based on the 24 papers that made the inclusion criteria, the authors identified 8 exercise categories that were reported in various combinations: strength, agility, plyometrics, balance, stretching, technique correction, warm-up and functional activities. Some of these definitions overlapped considerably and this was noted in the discussion. They then produced a useful traffic light system to identify which combinations were consistently effective, inconsistently effective and not effective.

RESULTS

There appears to be a positive protective effect of multi-component prevention programmes for knee (particularly ACL) and ankle but not groin injuries. There were various combinations of exercises that were reported as effective for general lower limb, ACL and ankle

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