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01-09-2020 | Muscle Injuries | Systematic Review

Exercise-Based Strategies to Prevent Muscle Injury in Elite Footballers: A Systematic Review and Best Evidence Synthesis

Authors: Maurizio Fanchini, Ida Bo Steendahl, Franco M. Impellizzeri, Ricard Pruna, Gregory Dupont, Aaron J. Coutts, Tim Meyer, Alan McCall

Published in: Sports Medicine | Issue 9/2020

Abstract

Background

Exercise-based strategies are used to prevent muscle injuries in football and studies on different competitive-level populations may provide different results.

Objectives

To evaluate the effectiveness of exercise-based muscle injury prevention strategies in adult elite football.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and SPORTDiscuss (EBSCO). We considered only elite adult (> 16 year-old) football players with no distinction for gender; the intervention to be any exercise/s performed with the target to prevent lower-limb muscle injuries; the comparison to be no injury prevention exercise undertaken; the outcome to be the number of injuries, injury incidence, and severity. We searched systematic reviews, randomized-controlled trials (RCTs), and non-randomized-controlled trials (NRCTs), limited for English language. Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews tool, the Cochrane Collaboration’s Tool for assessing risk of bias in RCTs, and the Risk of Bias in NRCTs of Interventions tool.

Results

15 studies were included. Three systematic reviews showed inconsistent results, with one supporting (high risk of bias) and two showing insufficient evidence (low risk of bias) to support exercise-based strategies to prevent muscle injuries in elite players. Five RCTs and seven NRCTs support eccentric exercise, proprioception exercises, and a multi-dimensional component to an injury prevention program; however, all were deemed to be at high/critical risk of bias. Only one RCT was found at low risk of bias and supported eccentric exercise for preventing groin problems.

Conclusion

We found limited scientific evidence to support exercise-based strategies to prevent muscle injury in elite footballers.

Trial Registration Number

PROSPERO CRD42017077705.

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Title: Exercise-Based Strategies to Prevent Muscle Injury in Elite Footballers: A Systematic Review and Best Evidence Synthesis
Authors: Maurizio Fanchini
Ida Bo Steendahl
Franco M. Impellizzeri
Ricard Pruna
Gregory Dupont
Aaron J. Coutts
Tim Meyer
Alan McCall
Publication date: 01-09-2020
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Keyword: Muscle Injuries
Published in: Sports Medicine / Issue 9/2020
Print ISSN: 0112-1642
Electronic ISSN: 1179-2035
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01282-z

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Exercise-Based Strategies to Prevent Muscle Injury in Elite Footballers: A Systematic Review and Best Evidence Synthesis

Abstract

Background

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Trial Registration Number

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Trial Registration Number

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