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Quiroga Diaz L.V.1, Prieto Mondragon L.D.P.1, Hernandez E.D.1, Mancera Soto E.M.1
1Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota, Colombia
Background: Training related to vigorous sports like soccer can include difficulties and health problems due to the increasing risk of injury. Over the past decade, interest in research in sports injury prevention and especially in football, being the most popular sport world as a whole has increased. Likewise, the number of clinical trials and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the prevention of sports injuries have increased significantly from 2000 to the present. Epidemiological studies have indicated the frequency and forms of injury in various sporting events, but comparisons between studies are complicated by the different criteria used injury and inconsistency in data collection and recording. Currently different injury prevention programs, developed as part of warming or training, are recommended and applied by athletes in greater predominance for football. These programs have been applied in studies, both randomized and non-randomized, however the results have been inadequate and sometimes contradictory to establish what kind of intervention is the most effective.
Purpose: Aim: To determine the effectiveness of injury prevention programs in soccer, from a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
Methods: The research was conducted electronically in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Lilacs and ScienceDirect until January 2015. Randomized controlled trials of intervention programs to prevent soccer injuries were selected.
Data analysis: Two independent researchers reviewed and assessed the quality of the studies and the data of the interventions to identify its results.
Results: 321 studies were identified. 28 randomized controlled studies were included which met the inclusion criteria regarding the assessment of the effectiveness of different injury prevention programs. However, the systematic review identified 3 groups of interventions based on: multimodal component programs, strengthening programs and other interventions versus conventional training in soccer or non-realization of injury prevention programs. The result variable was relative risk (RR).
Conclusion(s): This study demonstrates the positive effect of the implementation of programs on prevention of injuries regarding relative risk, and identifies the elements of intervention and analysis that have to be considered when implementing and proposing injury prevention programs in soccer. The results show statistical heterogeneity. However, from the clinical point of view, we identified that the most effective type of injury prevention program in this population is the multi-component program that includes warm-up, balance training, strengthening, plyometrics, and agility exercises proposed to carry out in field.
Implications: This research is an interesting opportunity for academic and clinical comunity, it could contribute to the knowledge and the development of professional practice of sports physical therapist and the development of programs and policies for injury prevention in sport, by this extrapolating the results of this investigation to other populations or another sports. Additionally its applicability would allow efforts and economic resources are saved in specific sports clubs in football teams because a lower incidence of injuries reduces costs in medical procedures, rehabilitation, at the time of disability and loss of physical performance on the players.
Funding acknowledgements: Funding for this research was not obtained of any entity.
Topic: Sport & sports injuries
Ethics approval: Ethics approval was not required.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
