Abstract
BackgroundHamstring strain and anterior cruciate ligament injuries are, respectively, the most prevalent and serious non-contact occurring injuries in team sports. Specific biomechanical and neuromuscular variables have been used to estimate the risk of incurring a non-contact injury in athletes.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to systematically review the evidences for the effectiveness of injury prevention protocols to modify biomechanical and neuromuscular anterior cruciate and/or hamstring injuries associated risk factors in uninjured team sport athletes.Data SourcesPubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Cochrane Libraries, U.S. National Institutes of Health clinicaltrials.gov, Sport Discuss and Google Scholar databases were searched for relevant journal articles published until March 2015. A manual review of relevant articles, authors, and journals, including bibliographies was performed from identified articles.Main ResultsNineteen studies were included in this review. Four assessment categories: i) landing, ii) side cutting, iii) stop-jump, and iv) muscle strength outcomes, were used to analyze the effectiveness of the preventive protocols. Eight studies using multifaceted interventions supported by video and/or technical feedback showed improvement in landing and/or stop-jump biomechanics, while no effects were observed on side-cutting maneuver. Additionally, multifaceted programs including hamstring eccentric exercises increased hamstring strength, hamstring to quadriceps functional ratio and/or promoted a shift of optimal knee flexion peak torque toward a more open angle position.ConclusionsMultifaceted programs, supported by proper video and/or technical feedback, including eccentric hamstring exercises would positively modify the biomechanical and or neuromuscular anterior cruciate and/or hamstring injury risk factors.
Highlights
Hamstring strain (HAM) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are, respectively, the most prevalent [1] and serious [2] non-contact occurring injuries in team sports and preventive programs aiming to protect athletes from both types of injury should be integrated
Eight studies using multifaceted interventions supported by video and/or technical feedback showed improvement in landing and/or stopjump biomechanics, while no effects were observed on side-cutting maneuver
A recently published systematic review highlights the lack of enough evidence to support the effect of neuromuscular training programs to reduce ACL injuries in athletes [2]
Summary
Hamstring strain (HAM) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are, respectively, the most prevalent [1] and serious [2] non-contact occurring injuries in team sports and preventive programs aiming to protect athletes from both types of injury should be integrated. A recently published systematic review highlights the lack of enough evidence to support the effect of neuromuscular training programs to reduce ACL injuries in athletes [2]. It seems that multifaceted programs involving strength, plyometric, balance, agility, core, and flexibility exercises would be the most effective intervention to prevent from ACL injuries [2]. Specific biomechanical and neuromuscular variables have been used to estimate the risk of incurring a non-contact injury in athletes
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