Neuromuscular training strategies for preventing lower limb injuries: What's new and what are the practical implications of what we already know?

摘要

Sports and recreation injuries are now known to be a significant public health problem. Lower limb injuries sustained during childhood and adolescence are associated with increased morbidity, including early development of osteoarth-ritis and long-term pain and disability;1 2 ultimately interfering with work, sports participation and a healthy level of physical activity. In March 2010, we published a systematic review and meta-analysis (literature search conducted October 2008) on the effectiveness of neuromuscular training for prevention of sports injuries in athletes.3 Seven high-quality studies involving young male and female athletes (12-24 years) were included. Participants were engaged in organised sports, including basketball, volleyball, soccer, team handball, hockey and floorball. The pooled analyses revealed that multi-intervention exercises (comprising balance and agility training, stretching, plyometrics, running exercises, cutting and landing technique, strength training) significantly reduced the relative risk of lower limb injuries (relative risk reduction (RRR)=39%, 95% CI 23% to 51%), acute knee injuries (RRR=54%, 95% CI 24% to 72%) and ankle sprain injuries (RRR=50%, 95% CI 21% to 69%).