Neuromuscular training reduces ACL injury risk in athletes: meta-analysis
Photo by Jay Lamm / Unsplash
Key Takeaway
Consider neuromuscular training to reduce ACL injury risk in athletes, based on meta-analytic evidence.
This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized data from 19 studies to evaluate the effect of neuromuscular training (NMT) on the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in athletes. The primary outcome was ACL injury incidence.
The pooled analysis demonstrated that NMT significantly reduced the risk of ACL injury, with an odds ratio of 0.456 (95% CI: 0.331-0.627; p < 0.001). This indicates a substantial protective effect, though the absolute risk reduction was not reported.
The authors did not specify limitations in the provided data, but meta-analyses often face heterogeneity across studies in training protocols, populations, and follow-up durations. No information on adverse events, funding, or conflicts of interest was reported.
Clinicians may consider incorporating NMT into injury prevention programs for athletes, particularly given the strong statistical significance. However, the absence of absolute risk data and potential study heterogeneity warrant cautious interpretation. Further research should clarify optimal training components and long-term outcomes.
View Original Abstract ↓
ObjectiveAnterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common in competitive sports and may lead to long-term functional impairment and substantial career burden. Neuromuscular training (NMT) has been proposed to reduce the risk of ACL injury; however, whether its preventive effectiveness differs by age remains controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis quantitatively evaluated the protective effects of NMT across different age groups.MethodsFive databases were systematically searched for studies evaluating the effect of NMT on the incidence of ACL injury. Pooled effects were synthesized using random-effects models and reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Age-stratified subgroup analyses and meta-regression (using the study-level mean age as a continuous moderator) were conducted to explore potential age-related differences in effectiveness.ResultsA total of 19 studies met the inclusion criteria and contributed to the primary meta-analysis. The random-effects meta-analysis showed that NMT significantly reduced ACL injury risk (OR = 0.456, 95% CI: 0.331–0.627, p
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